IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

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CIHM/ICMH 

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The  c( 
to  the 


Their 
possil 
of  the 
filmin 


Origir 
begini 
the  la 
sion,  I 
other 
first  p 
sion,  < 
or  illu 


The  It 
shall  I 
TINUI 
which 

ly/laps 

differ( 

entire 

begin 

right 

requii 

methi 


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Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

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aox 

y 

12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


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The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —^-(meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
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Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  6tre 
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et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


1 

2 

3 

1  2  3 

4  5  6 


{ 


A 


MA(QW2MA 


NARRATIVE 

OF    THE 

ADVENTURES  AND  SUFFERINGS 

..    J'OBIJV  M,  HEWITT,     ■ 

ONLY  SURVIVOR  OF  THE  CREW  OF  THE 

SHIP  BOSTON, 

DURING  A   CAPTIVITY   OF   SEARLY    THREE    YEARS 
,     .,     '    ,  V,  ,  AMONG  THE 

c        SAVAGES  OF  NOOTKA  SOUND: 

WITH  AW  ACCOUNT  OP  THE  .;     v  «.  Li 

MJNNERS,  MODE  OF  LIVING,  JND  RELIGIOUS 
OPINIONS  OF  THE  NATIVES.    >    v  ^^^ 

One  repreaenting  the  Ship  in  possession  of  the  Savages,  and  the 
other  a  Portrait  of  the  Indian  Chief  Maquina, 

"  Dire  scenes  of  horror  on  a  savage  shore, 
"  Inivhich,  a  witness  sad,  a  part  I  bore/' 


MIDDLETOWN:  ^ 

PRINTED   BY   LOOMIS   AND    RICHARDS, 
dlind  Reprinted  by  Rowland  Hurst,  Wakefield; 

AND  PUBLISHED  BT  L0NGM4V,   HDSRT,  REICS,   ORMB  AND  BROWW, 

PATERNOSTER-ROW*  LONDON  ;  AND  SOLD   BT 

ALL  OTHER  BOOKSELLERS. 

'u       »3U3;  ■';■    MJ   i:        ■■  ,w?   <lV^m^.> 

1816. 


ks. 


^imitt  df  Conmttftut,  H, 


% 


^ ^        BE    IT    REMEMBERED;    That 

;  i^^'^'J     on  the  eighth  day  of  March,  in  the 

thirty-ninth  year  of  the  Independence 

of  the  United  States  of  America^  John  R.  Je  witt, 

of  the  said  District j  hath  deposited  in  this  office^ 

the  title  of  a  Bookj  the  right  whereof  he  claims  as 

proprietor,  in  the  words  following,  to  wit, 

A  narrative  of  the  adventures  and  sufferings  of 

John  R.  Jewett;  only  survivor  of  the  crew  of  the 

ship  Boston    during  a  captivity  of  nearly  three 

years  among  the  savages  of  Nooika  Sound:  With 

an  account  of  the  manners ^  mode  of  living,  and 

religious  opinions  of  the  natives.      Embellished 

with  two  plates,  representing  the  ship  in  possession 

of  the  savages,  and  a  portrait  of  their  Chief  ,  Ma* 

quina, 

*'  Dire  scenes  of  horror  on  a  savage  shore^ 
'  <<  lu  which,  a  witness  sady  a  part  I  bore." 

In  conformity  to  an  act  of  the  Congress  of  the 

United  States^  entitled,  *'  An  act  for  the  encou* 

**  ragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies 

**  of  Maps,  Charts,  and  Books,  to  the  proprietors 

**  of  such  copies^  during  the  times  therein  men* 

*'  tioned  " 

HENRY  W.  EDWARDS, 

Clerk  of  the  District  of  Connecticut. 

A  true  copy  of  Record,  examined  and  sealed  by  mej^r^' 

HENRY  W.  EDWARDS,  ^ 

Clerk  of  the  Drstrict  of  Connecticut. 


J  .„■ 


ban  il-  '; 


'tt|i-;    .: 


>-:      \ 


.  1    .•     ..- 


•■\ 


To  i^A^  English  Reader. 


>  J  ( -'  ■  -, ». '  J   1  .•'  i  > 


'M  ur-r. 


3  ^ 


The  fallowing  very  interesting  work 
has  passed  through  many  editions  in 
America,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt 
but  it  will  excite  much  sympathy  in  this 
country;  more  especially  as  the  hero 
of  the  narrative  is  a  native  of  Great 
Britain.         ■.^mai.'ioi  e^aui  nu,:iii  jli^^qv. 

* 
The  editor  of  this  edition  received 

the  copy  from  the  hands  of  Mr.  Jewitt, 
the  author,  at  Middletown,  in  the  State 
of  Connecticut,  in  which  town  he  has 
been  some  time  advantageously  settled 
in  business,  and  at  whose  house  the  edi- 
tor has  spent  many  pleasant  hours.  His 
companion  in  misfortunes,  Thompson, 
on  his  arrival  at  Boston,  immediately 
went  to. Philadelphia^  his  native  place, 


where  he  was  soon  after  taken  ill  and 
died.  V-  , 

'  •  (' 

We  have  many  books  of  fiction  in 
our  language,  which  have  been  for  ages 
read  with  much  avidity  by  our  youth  ; 
many  of  them^  with  all  the  aid  of  fiction^ 
certainly  not  equally  interesting  with 
this  well  authenticated  narrative. 


•.,   J 'I  s  .'  » .  '■ 


In  many  parts  the  mode  of  expres- 
sion in  the  narrative,  might,  perhaps, 
have  been  improved,  but  the  editor 
has  thought  it  best  for  the  author  to 
speak  at  all  times  for  himself. 


^-^!'. 


;3iiv^0'*  .■■i'^"'^^»  v-bin"--?.'    -.^-ifi    \        ■       yU'V.,  /hI|- 

i;:>ijj  1'  .^'^".-n-i'^M  "^'v 'f.-:   -*tTri.'.  ■'-fvit;*^  iii>o^t 


'H-^ 


.Oi!  ♦■  J. 


rf  '"^'vcjq^  E^trf  *5v>l 


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N     .'•! 


J^AMM^TIVE 


OF 


\M 


JOHN  R.JEWITT. 


JL  WAS  born  in  Boston,  n  eotisiderable  borough 
town  in  Lincolnshire,  in  Great-Britain,  on  the 
21st  of  May^  1783.  My  fatW,  Edward  Jevvitt, 
was  by  trade  a  blacksmith,  and  esteemed  among 
the  first  in  his  line  of  business  in  that  place.  At 
the  age  of  three  years  J  had  the  misfortune  to  lose 
my  mother,  a  most  excellent  Woman,  who  died 
in  childbeil,  leaving  an  infant  daughter,  who,  with 
myself,  and  an  elder  brother  by  a  former  marriage 
of  my  fatlier,  constituted  the  whole  of  our  family. 
My  father,  who  considered  a  good  education  as 
the  greatest  blessing  he  could  bestow  on  his  child- 
ren, was  very  particular  in  paying  every  atten- 
tion to  us  in  that  respect,  always  exhorting  us 
to  behave  well,  and  endeavouring  to  impress  on 
bur  miods  the  principles  of  virtue  and  morality^ 
and  no  expense  in  his  power  was  spared  to  have 
us  instructed  in  whatever  might  render  us  useful 
and  respectable  in  society.^     My  brother,  who  was 


<\ 


four  years  older  than  myself  and  of  a  more  hardy 
corisitution,  he  destined  for  his  own  trade,  bat 
to  me  he  had  resolved  to  give  an  education  supe* 
rior  to  that  which  is  to  be  obtained  in  a  common 
school,  it  being  his  intention  that  1  should  adopt 
008  of  the  learned  professions.  Accordingly  at  the 
age  of  twelve  he  took  me  from  the  school  in  which 
J  had  been  taught  the  first  rudiments  of  learning, 
and  placed  me  under  the  care  of  Mr.  Mosei, 
a  celebrated  teacher  of  an  academy  at  Donnington, 
about  eleven  miles  from  Boston,  in  order  to  be 
instructed  in  the  Latin  language,  and  in  some  of 
the  higher  branches  of  the  Mathematics.  I  there 
made  considerable  proficiency  in  writing,  reading, 
'and  arithmetic,  and  obtained  a  pretty  good  know- 
ledge  of  navigation  and  of  surveying;  but  my 
progress  in  Latin  was  slow,  not  only  owing  to  the 
little  inclination  1  felt  for  learning  that  language, 
but  to  a  natural  impediment  in  my  speech,  which 
rendered  it  extremely  difficult  for  me  to  pronounce 
it,  so  that  in  a  short  time,  with  my  father^s  con- 
sent, I  wholly  relinquished  the  study. 

The  period  of  my  stay  at  this  place  was  the  mott 
happy  of  my  life.  My  preceptor,  Mr.  Moses,  was 
not  only  a  learned,  but  a  virtuous,  benevolent, 
and  amiable  man,  universally  beloved  by  his  pa- 
pils,  who  took  delight  in  his  instruction,  and  io 
whom  he  allowed  «very  proper  amusement,  that 
consisted  with  attention  to  their  stodiea. 


ardy 
but 
BUpeo 
itnoo 
dopt 
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0860, 
tOD, 

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■ 

there 


One  of  the  prlncipul  pleasures  I  enjtjyed  was  in 
ttteodiog  the  fair,  which  is  regularly  held  twice  a 
year  at  Donnington,  io  the  opriog  aud  io  the  fall, 
thfe  8C.ood«^  da>  beiog  wholly  devoted  to  selling 
horses,  a  prodigious  number  of  which  arc^brought 
thither  for  that  purpose.  As  the  scholars  on  these 
occasions  were  always  indulged  with  a  holiday,  I 
cannot  express  with  what  eagerness  of  youthful 
expectation  I  used  to  anticipate  these  fairs,  uor 
what  delight  1  felt  at  the  various  shows,  exhibi- 
tioDS  of  wild  beaitS)  and  other  entertainments  that 
Ihey  presented;  I  was  frequently  visited  by  my  fa- 
ther, who  always  discovered  much  joy  an  seeing 
me,  praised  me  for  my  acquirements,  and  usually 
left  me  a  small  sum  lor  my  pocket  expenses. 

Among  the  scholars  at  this  academy,  there 
was  one  named  Charles  Rice,  with  whom  I  formed 
a  particular  intimacy,  which  continued  during  the 
whole  of  my  stay.  He  was  my  class  and  room 
mate,  and  as  the  town  he  came  from,  Ashby, 
was  more  than  60  miles  off,  instead  of  returning 
home,  he  used  frequently  during  the  vacation,  to 
go  with  me  to  Boston,  where  he  always  met  with 
a  cordial  [welcome  from  my  father,  who  received 
me  on  these  occasions  with  the  greatest  affection, 
apparently  taking  much  pride  in  me.  My  friend 
in  return  used  to  take  me  with  him  to  an  uncle 
of  his  in  Donnlngton,  a  very  wealthy  man,  who, 
having  no  chUdreu  of  his  own,  was  very  foad  of 

B  Z 


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6 


I    > 


■'^- 


if 


\m  nephevr,  and  oo  his  account  I  was  always 
a  welcome  visitor  at  the  house.  I  had  a  g^od 
^'oice,  and  an  ear  for  music,  to  which  I  was  al- 
ways passionately  attached,  though  my  father  en- 
deavoured to  discourage  this  propensity,  considering 
it,  (as  is  too  frequently  the  case)  but  an  introduc* 
tioD  \o  a  lite  of  idleness  and  dissipation,  and  hav- 
ing been  remarked  for  my  singing  at  church, 
which  was  regularly  attended  oo  Sundays  and 
festival  days  by  the  scholars,  Mr.  Morthrop,  my 
friend  Rice's  uncle,  used  frequently  \o  request  me 
•to  sing  ;  he  was  always  pleased  with  my  exhibitions 
of  this  kind,  and  it  was  no  doubt  one  of  the  means 
that  secured  me  so  gracious  a  reception  at  his 
house.  A  number  of  other  gentlemen  in  the  ptace 
would  sometimes  send  for  me  to  sing  at  their 
houses,  and  as  I  was  not  a  little  vain  of  my  vocal 
powers,  I  was  much  gratified  on  receiving  these 
invitations,  and  accepted  them  with  the  greatest 
pleasure. 


■if         .  '■        ,  ■■ 

.    -       -    .  ■       ■"  -,   - 


1!  ■ 


Thus  passed  away  the  two  happiest  years  of 
my  life,  when  my  father,  thinking  that  I  had  re« 
ceived  a  snfficient  education  for  the  profession  he 
intended  me  for,  took  me  from  school  at  Donning* 
ton  in  order  to  apprentice  me  to  Doctor  Mason,  a 
surgeon  of  eminence  at  Reasby,  in  the  neighboui:^ 
hood  of  the  celebrated  Sir  Joseph  Banks.  With 
regret  did  I  part  from  my  school  acquaintance, 
particularly  my  friend  Rice,  and  returned  hootf 


v^ 


'  \ 


» 


r  - 


\l^i(h  my  father,  on  a  short  visit  io  my  family, 
preparatory  to  my  ii  ''ed  apprenticeship.  The 
disinclination  I  ever  had  felt  for  the  profession  my 
father  wished  me  to  pursue,  was  still  further  in- 
creased on  my  retuin.  When  a  child  I  was  al- 
ways fond  of  being  in  the  shop,  among  the  work- 
men, endeavouring  to  imitate  what  I  saw  them 
do  *,  this  disposition  so  far  increased  after  my  leav- 
ing  the  academy,  that  I  could  not  bear  to  hear 
the  least  mention  made  of  my  being  apprenticed 
to  a  surgeon,  atid  I  used  so  many  entreaties  with 
my  father  to  pursuade  him  to  give  up  thia  plan 
and  learn  me  his  own  trade,  that  he  at  last  con<* 
sented.  More  fortunate  would  it  probably  have 
been  for  me,  had  1  gratified  the  wishes  of  this 
affectionate  parent,  in  adopting  the  profession  h<i 
had  chosen  for  me,  than  thus  to  haveinduced  him  to 
eracrifice  them  to  mine.  However  it  might  have  been, 
I  was  at  tengtb  introduced  into  the  shop,  and 
my  natural  turn  of  mind  corresponding  with  the 
employment,  I  became  in  a  short  time  uncommonly 
expert  at  the  work  to  which  I  was  set.  I  now  felt 
myself  well  contented,  pleased  with  my  occupation^ 
ffod  treated  with  much  affection  by  my  father,  and 
^indness  by  my  step-mother^  my  father  having 
once  more  entered  the  state  of  matrimony,  with  a 
widow  much  younger  than  himself,  who  had  been 
brought  up  in  a  superior  manner,  and  was  an  amia- 
ble and  sensible  woman. 


't;i» 


B  3 


1 


■  ' 


I 


- ' 


10 

About  a  year  after  I  had  commenced  this  appreo- 
lieship,  my  father  fioding  that  he  could  carry  oa 
his  business  to  mora  advantage  in  Hull,  removed 
thither  with  his  family.  An  event  of  no  little 
importance  to  me,  as  it  in  a  great  measure  influ- 
enced my  future  destiny.  Hull  being  one  of  the 
best  ports  in  England,  and  a  place  of  great  trade, 
my  father  had  there  full  employment  for  his  numer- 
ous workmen,  particularly  in  vessel  work.  This 
naturally  leading  me  to  an  acquaintance  with  the 
sailors  on  board  some  of  the  ships  :  the  many  re- 
markable stories  they  told  me  of  their  voyages  and 
adventures,  and  of  the  manners  and  customs  oC; 
the  nations  they  had  seen,  excited  a  strong  wish  in 
me  to  visit  foreign  countries,  which  was  encreased 
by  my  reading  the  voyages  of  Captain  Cook,  and 
tome  other  celebrated  \ 


igatoi 


•"^mx^-^-  •:!  •' 


■■% 


'\  Thus  passed  the  four  years  that  I  lived  at 
Hull,  where  my  father  was  esteemed  by  all  who 
knew  him,  as  a  worthy,  industrious,  and  thriving 
man.  At  this  period  a  circumstance  occured  which 
afforded  me  the  opportunity  I  had  for  some  time 
wished,  of  gratifying  my  iDclioation  of  going 
nbroad. 


li 
o 


Among  oar  principal  castoroers  at  Hull,  were 
the  Americans  who  frequented  that  port,  and  from 
whose  conversation,  my  father  as  well  as  myself 
formed  the  most  favorable  opinion  of  tliat  coun* 


^w 


11 


pren- 
ry  OQ 
loved 
little 
ioflu- 
»f  the 
trade,  * 
xmer- 
This 
i  the 
y  re- 
el and 

OS  of 

sh  in- 
eased 
.  and 


fri 


d  at 
who 
iviog 
(^hich 
time 
JoiDg 


were 
from 
yself 
;ouQ* 


try,  as  affording  an  excellent  field  for  tlie  exertions 
of  industry,  and  a  flattering  prospect  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  young  man  in  life.     In  the  summer 
of  the  year  1S02,  during  the  peace  between  Eng- 
land and  France,  the   ship  Boston,  belonging  to 
Boston,    in    Massachusetts,    and   commanded   by 
Captain  John  Salter,  arrived  at  Hull,  whither  sher 
came  to  take  on  board  a  cargo  of  such  goods  as 
were   wanted  for  the  trade   with  the  Indians,  on 
the  North-west  coast  of    America,    from  whence 
after  having  taken  in  a  lading  of  furs  and  skins, 
she  was  to  proceed  to  China,  and  from  thence  home 
to  America.     The  ship,  having  occasion  for  many 
repairs  and  alterations,    necessary  for  so  long  a 
voyage,  the  Captain  applied  to  my  father  to  do  the 
smithes  work,  which  was  very  considerable.     That 
gentleman,  who  was  of  a  social  turn,  used  often 
to  call  at  my  father's  house,  where  he  passed  many 
of  his  evenings,  with  his  chief  and  second  mates, 
Mr.  B.  Delouisa  and  Mr.  William  Ingraham,  the 
latter  a  fine  young  man  of  about  twenty,  of  a  most 
amiable  temper,  and  of  such  affable  manners,  as 
gained  him  the  love  and  attachment  of  the  whole 
crew.       These    gentlemen    used    occasionally   to 
take  me  with  them  to  the  theatre,  an  amusement 
which  I  was  very  fond  of,  and  which  my  father 
rather  encouraged  than  objected  to,  as  he  thought 
it  a  good  means  of  preventing  young  men  who  are 
naturally  inclined  to  seek  for  something  to  amuse 
ihem,    from  frequenting  taverns,  ale^housesj  and 


J 


?   '        ■ ;  ■ 

pfacea  of  bad  reiort,  equally  destructive  of  the 
health  aod  moraU,  while  the  stage  frequently  fur- 
Dishes   excelieot   lessoos   of   morality  and   good 

coodttct* 

:'  ■a.,^<iu-tr>cll' ^i^t^v!^:!,'  .-pji/vri,  ;5,.:n-J^*F.;' 

.  In  the  evenings  that  he  passed  at  my  father'^. 
Captain  Salter,  who  had  for  a  great  number  of 
years  been  at  sea^  and  seen  almost  all  parts  of 
the  world,  used  sometimes  to  speak  of  his  voyages^ 
and  observing  me  listen  with  much  attention  to 
bis  relations,  he  one  day  when^  I  had  brought  him 
some  work,  said  to^  me  in  rather  a  jocose  manner, 
John,  how  should  you  like  to  go  with  me?  I 
answered,  that  it  would  give  me  great  pleasure, 
that  I  had  for  a  long  time  wished  to  visit  foreign 
oouF tries,  particularly  America,  which  I  had  been 
told  so  many  fine  stories  of,  and  that  if  my  father 
would  give  his  consent,  and  he  was  willing  to  take 
me  with  him,  I  would  go.  I  shall  be  very  glad 
to  do  it  said  he,  if  your  father  can  be  prevailed  on 
to  let  you  go,  and  as  I  want  an  expert  smith  for  an 
armourer,  the  one  I  have  shipped  for  that  purpose 
■ot  being  sufficiently  master  of  his  trade,  I  have 
DO  doubt  thai  you  will  answer  my  turn  well,  as  I 
perceive  you  are  both  active  aod  ingenious,  and 
on  my  return  to  America  I  shall  probably  be  able 
to  do  something  much  better  for  you  in  Boston ; 
I  will  take  the  first  opportunity  of  speaking  to 
your  father  about  it,  and  try  to  persuade  him  to 
conseat.    He  accordingly  the  next  evening  that  he 


m 

'■ 

ca 

', 

fa 

'1^ 

ta 

r: 

th 

te 

to 

t   w- 


13 


'■ft 


called  at  our  house,  mtrodu:ed  the  subject:  my 
father  at  first  would  not  lioteu  to  the  proposal. 
That  best  of  parents,  though  auxious  for  my  advan- 
tageous establishment  in  life,  could  not  bear  to 
think  of  parting  with  me,  but  on  Captain  Salter's 
telling  him  of  what  benefit  it  would  be  to  me 
to  go  the  voyage  with  him,  and  that  it  was  a 
pity  to  keep  a  promising  and  ingenious  young  fel* 
low,  like  myself,  confined  to  a  small  shop  in  Eng- 
land, when  if  I  had  tolerable  success,  I  might 
do  so  much  better  in  America,  where  wages  wire 
much  higher  and  living  cheaper,  he  at  length  gave 
up  his  objections,  and  consented  that  I  should  ship 
on  board  the  Boston  as  an  armourer,  at  the  rate 
of  thirty  dollars  per  month ;  with  an  agreement 
that  the  amount  due  to  me,  together  with  a  certain 
sum  of  money  which  my  father  gave  Capt.  Salter 
for  that  purpose,  should  be  Ittid  out  by  him  on  the 
North-west  coast  Jn  the  purchase  of  furs  for  my 
account,  to  be  disposed  of  in  China  for  such  goods 
as  would  yield  a  profit  on  the  return  of  the  ship ; 
my  father  being  solicitous  to  give  me  every  advan- 
tage in  his  power,  of  well  establishing  myself  in 
my  trade  in  Boston,  or  some  other  maritime  town 
*^  of  Ainerica.  Such  were  the  flattering  expectations 
which  this  good  man  induJged  respecting  me. 
Alas!  the  fatal  disaster  that  befel  us,  not  only 
blasted  all  these  hopes,  hut  involved  me  in  ex» 
treme  distress  and  wretchedness  for  a  long  period 


after. 


m,^*4v,f^'^^^ki^|^^.,  :**A  -i^ffiUH,,  ;-fiSp<i^    v'W'i* 


'I  «l 


lull 


t4 


i'B't 


The  ship  having  undergooe  a  thoroagh  repair 
and  beeD  well  coppered,  proceeded  to  take  on  board 
her  cargo,  which  couBisted  of  Eoglieh  cloths,  Datoh 
blankets,  looking  glasses,  beads,  knives,  razors^ 
&e,  which  were  received  from  Holland,  some  sugar 
and  molasses,  about  twenty  hogsheads  of  rum, 
including  stores  for  the  ship,  a  great  quantity  of 
ammunition,,  cutlasses^  pistols,  and  three^thousaod 
muskets  and  fowling  pieces.  The  ship  being 
loaded  and  ready  for  sea,  as  I  was  preparing  for  ' 
my  departure,  my  father  came  to  me,  and  taking 
me  aside,  said  to  me  ;?!th  much  emotion,  John, 
I  am  now  going  to  part  with  yon,  and  heaven 
only  knows  if  we  shall  ever  again  meet.  But  ia 
whatever  part  of  the  world  you  are,  always  bear  it 
in  mind,  that  on  your  own  conduct  will  depend 
your  success-  in  life.  Be  honest,  indns..ious,  fra* 
gal,  and  temperate,  and  you  will  not  CmI,  in  what- 
soever country  it  may  be  your  lot  to  be  placed, 
to  gain  yoarself  friends.  Let  the  Bible  be  your 
guide,  and  your  reliance  iii^  any  fortune  ibat  may 
befal  you,  that  Almighty  Being,  who  knows  how 
t6  bring  forth  good  from  evil,  and  who  never 
deserts  those  who  put  their  trust  in  him.  He  re- 
peated his  exhortations  to  me  to  lead  an  honest 
and  christian  life,  and  to  recollect  that  1  had  a 
father,  a  mother,  a  brother,  and  sister,  who  could 
not  but  feel  a  strong  interest  in  my  welfare,  en- 
joining me  to  write  him  by  the  first  opportunity 
thai  should  offer  to  England,  from  whatever  part 


w,'^ 

M 


15 


repair 
1  board 
Datoh 
razoriy 
i  lagar 

rum^ 
Uity  of 
9U8aod 

being 
iDg  for 
taking 
John,, 
leaven 
Bat  in 
bear  it 
lepend 
I9  fra* 
vrfaat- 
laced, 
!  yoar 
t  may 
\  how 
never 
Here- 
lonest 
lad  a 
could 
5,  en- 
unity 
r  part 


V-. 


<$:■ 


«f  the  world  I  might  be  in,  more  particularly  on 
my  arrival  in  Boston.  This  1  promised  to  do,  (jut 
long  unhappily  wai  it  before  I  was  able  to  fulfil 
this  promise.  I  then  took  an  aifectionate  leave  of 
my  worthy  parent,  whose  feelings,  would  hardly 
permit  him  to  speak,  and  bidding  an  affectionate 
farewell  to  my  brother,  sister,  and  step-mother, 
who  expressed  the  greatest  solicitude  for  my  fu- 
ture fortune,  went  on  board  the  ship,  which 
proceeded  to  the  Downs,  to  be  ready  for  the  first 
favourable  wind.  I  found  myself  well  accommo- 
dated on  board  as  regarded  my  work,  an  iron  forge 
having  been  erected  on  deck ;  this  my  father  had 
made  for  the  ship  on  a  new  plan,  for  which  he 
afterwards  obtained  a  patent ;  while  a  comer  of  the 
steerage  was  appropriated  to  my  vice  bench,  so  that 
in  bad  weather  I  could  work  below. 

On  the  third  day  of  Septemlier^  1 802,  we  sail- 
ed from  the  Downs  with  a  fair  wind,  in  company 
with  twenty-four  sail  of  American  vessels,  most  of 
which  were  bound  home. 

I  was  sea-sick  for  a  few  of  the  first  days,  but  it 
was  of  short  continuance,  and  on  my  recovery  I 
found  myself  in  uncommonly  fine  health  and  spirits, 
and  went  to  work  with  alacrity  at  my  forge,  in 
putting  in  order  some  of  the  muskets,  and  making 
daggers,  knives,  and  small  hatchets  for  the  Indian 
trade,  while  in  wet  and  stormy  weather  I  was  oe« 


I 


I' 


I    'I 


^•« 


16  ^ 

t'upied  below  in  filing  and  polishing  them.  This 
was  my  employment,  having  but  little  to  do  with 
sailing  the  vessel,  though  1  used  occasionally  t« 
lend  a  hand  in  assisting  the  seamen  in  taking  in 
and  makingsaii.  As  I  had  never  before  been  out  of 
sight  of  land,  I  cannot  describe  my  sensations^ 
after  I  had  recovered  from  the  distressing  effects 
of  sea-sickness,  on  viewing  the  mighty  ocean  by 
which  I  was  surrounded,  bound  only  by  the  sky, 
while  its  waves  rising  in  mountains,  seemed  every 
moment  to  threaten  our  ruin.  Manifest  as  is  the 
hand  of  Providence  in  preserving  its  creatures  from 
destruction,  in  no  instance  is  it  more  so  than  on  the 
great  deep;  for  whether' we  consider  in  its  tumul- 
tary  motions  the  watery  deluge  that  each  moment 
menaces  to  overwhelm  us,  the  immense  violence  of 
its  shocks,  the  little  that  interposes  between  us  and 
death,  a  single  plank  forming  our  only  security, 
which,  should  it  unfortunately  be  loosened  would 
plunge  us  at  once  into  the  abyss,  our  gratitude 
ought  strongly  to  be  excited  towards  that  super- 
intending Deity  who  in  so  wonderful  a  manner 
sustains  our  lives  amid  the  waves. 

We  had  a  pleasant  and  favourable  passage  of 
twenty-nine  days  to  the  Island  of  St.  Catherine  on 
the  coast  of  Brazils,  where  the  Captain  had  de- 
termined to  stop  for  a  few  days  to  wood  and  water. 
This  place4/elong8  to  tlie  Portuguese.  On  entering 
the  harbour  we  were  saluted  by  the  fort  which  we 


:4 


17 

feturned.  The  next  day  the  Governor  of  the 
Island  came  on  board  of  us  with  his  suite ;  Captaia 
Salter  received  him  with  much  respect  and  invited 
him  to  dine  with  him,  which  he  accepted.  The 
ship  remained  at  St.  Catherine's  four  days,  during 
which  time,  we  were  busily  employed  in  taking  in 
wood,  water,  and  fresh  provisions,  Captain  Salter 
thinking  it  best  to  furnish  himself  here  with  a  full 
supply  for  his  voyage  to  the  Nortb-West  coast, 
«o  as  not  to  be  obliged  to  stop  at  the  Sandwich 
Islands.  St.  Catherine  is  a  v^ry  commodious  place 
for  vessels  to  stop  at  that  are  bound  round  Cape 
Horn,  as  it  abounds  with  springs  of  fine  water, 
with  excellent  oranges,   plantains,  and  bananas. 


*  ♦ 


Having  completed  our  stores  we  put  to  sea, 
l^nd  on  the   tweuty-iifih  of  December,  at  length 

passed  Cape  Horn,  which  we  had  made  no   less 

I  than  thirty^six  days  before,   but   were  repeatedly 

'forced  back  by  contrary  winds,  expriencing  very 

rough  and  tempestuous  weather  in  doubling  it. 


4 


111 


Immediately  after  passing  Cape  Horn,  all  our  ' 
-dangers  and  difficulties  seemed  to  be  ar,  an  end;  the 
weath?r  became  tioe,  and  so  little  labour  was  ne- 
cessary on  board  the  sbip^  that  the  men  soon  reco- 
vered from  their  fatigue  and  were  in  excellent 
'spirits.  A  few  days  after  we  fell  in  with  aa  Eng- 
lish Sooth  Sea  Whaliqg  Ship,  homeward  bound, 
which  was  the  only    vessel  we  spoke    with    on 

C 


i'U 


I  >;l 


1^1 

i| 

>    i\ 

t     ■ 

I  . 


18 


« 


i 


■*:  : 


our  voyage.  We  now  took  Ihe  trade  wind  or 
monsoon,  during  which  we  enjoyed  the  finest  wea- 
ther possible,  so  that  for  the  space  of  a  fortnight 
we  were  not  obliged  to  reeve  a  topsail  or  to  make 
a  tack,  and  so  light  was  the  duty  aqd  easy  the  life 
of  the  sailors  dqriog  this  time,  that  they  appear- 
ed the  happiest  of  any  people  in  the  world. 

Captain  Salter,  who  had  been  for  many  years 
in  the    £ast-India  trade,   was   a   most  excellent 
seaman,  and  preserved  the  strictest  order  and  disci* 
pline  on  board  his  ship,  though  he  was  a  roan 
of   mild  temper  and    conciliating   manners,   and 
disposed  to  allow  every  indulgence  to  his  men, 
not  inconsistent  with  their  duty.    We  had  on  board 
a  fine  band  of    music,  with  which  on  Saturday 
nights,  when  the  weather  was  pleasant,  we  were 
accustomed  to  be  regaled,    the  Captain   ordering 
them  to  play  for  several  hours  for  the  amusement 
of  the  crew.      This  to  me  was  most  delightful, 
especially  during   the  serene  evenings  we  experi- 
enced in  traversing  the  Southern  Ocean.     As  for 
myself,  during  the  day  I  was  constantly  occupied 
at  my  forge,  in  refitting  or  repairing  some  of  the 
iron  work  of  the  vessel,  but  principally  in  mak- 
ing tomahawks,  daggers,  <&c.  for  the  North  West 


coast. 


Ac, 


ri    r*« 


M:\ 


During  the  first  part  of  our  voyage  we  saw 
scarcely  any  fish,  excepting  some  whales^  a  few 


nod  or 

st  wea- 

[>rtniglit 
0  make 

the  life 

j^^m. 

appear- 

ly  yean 
xcellent' 

*i^Mk 

ad  disci* 

a  roan 

^I^B 

;rs,   and 

lis  men, 

OD  board 

^turday 

we  were 

•y 

ordering 
usement 

Rightful, 

expert- 
As  for 

^j 

occupied 
e  of  the 

in  mak- 

■; 

th  West 

•  i'  )< 

we  saw 

- .  ■ 

1  a  few 

19 

sharks,  and  flying  fish  ;  but  after  weathering  Cape 
Horn  we  met  with  nnmerons  shoals  of  sea  por- 
poises, several  of  whom  we  caught,  and  as  we 
had  been  for  some  time  \^lhout  fresh  provisions, 
I  found  it  not  only  a  palatable  but  really  a  very 
excellent  food.  To  one  who  has  never  before  seen 
them,  a  shaol  of  these  firfh  presents  a  very  striking 
and  singular  appearance ;  beheld  at  a  distance  com- 
ing towards  a  vessel  they  look  not  unlike  a  great 
number  of  small  black  waves  rolling  over  one 
another  in  a  confused  manner  and  approaching 
with  great  swiftness.  As  soon  as  a  shoal  is  seen 
all  is  bustle  and  activity  on  board  the  ship,  the 
grains  and  the  harpoons  are  immediately  got  ready, 
and  those  who  are  best  skilled  in  throwing  them 
take  their  stand  at  the  bow  and  along  the  gunwale 
anxiously  awaiting  the  welcome  troop  al  they 
come,  gamboling  and  blowing  around  the  vessel, 
in  search  of  food.  When  pierced  with  the  har- 
poon and  drawn  on  board,  unless  the  fish  is  in- 
stantly killed  by  the  stroke,  which  rarely  happens, 
it  utters  most  pitiful  cries,  greatly  resembling  those 
of  an  infant.  The  flesh  cut  into  steaks  and  broiled, 
is  not  unlike  very  coarse  beef,  and  the  harslet  in 
appearance  and  taste  is  so  much  like  that  of  a  hog, 
that  it  would  be  no  easy  matter  to  distinguish  the 
one  from  the  other;  from  this  circumstance  the 
sailors  have  given  the  name  of  the  herring  hog  to 
this  fish;  I  was  told  by  some  of  the  crew,  that  if 
one  of  them  happens  to  free  itself  from  the  grains  or 

C  2 


,1 


-i'i 


V 


I 


l>  I 


20 


I  '■ 


i 


harpoons,  when  strack,  all  fhe  others,  altracted 
by  the  blood,  immediately  quit  the  ship  and  give 
chase  to  the  wounded  one,  and  as  soon  as  they 
overtake  it  immediately  tear  it  in  pieces.      We 
also  caught  a  larp;e    shark,  which  had  followed 
the  ship  for  several   days  with  a   hook  which  X 
made  for  tite  purpose,  and  although  the  flesh  was 
by  no  means  equal  to  that  of  the  herring  hog,  yet 
lo  those  destitute  as  we  were  of  any  thing  fresh, 
I  found  it  eat  very  well.     After  passing  the  Cape 
when  the  sea   had   become    calm   we  saw  great 
numbers  of  Albatrosses,  a  large  brown  and  white 
bird  of  the  goose  kind,  one  of  which  Captain  Salter 
shot,  whose  wings  measured  from  their  extremities 
fifteen  feet.    One  thing,  however,  I  must  noft  omit 
mentioning,   as  it  strnek  me  in  a  most  singnlar 
and  extraordinary   manner.      This  was,  that  on 
passing  Cape  Horn  in  December,  which  was  mid- 
summer in  that  climate,  the  nights  were  so  light, 
without  any  moon,   that  we  found  no  difficulty 
whatever  in  reading   small  sprint   which  we  fre* 
quently  did  during  our  watches. 


',vi^ 


se^ 


<■} 


In  this  manner,  with  a  fair  wind  and  easy  wee* 
iher  from  the  28th  of  December,  the  period  of  oar 
passing  Cape  Horn,  we  pursued  our  voyage  to  the 
Northward  until  the  12th  of  March,  1803,  when 
we  m^de  Woody  Point  in  Nootka  Sound  on  the 
Korth-west  Coast  of  America.  We  immediately 
stood  up  the  Sound  for  Nootka,  where  Captain 


i  I  ! 


'%, 


(travted 
id  give 
18  they 
We 
>lldwed 
hich  I 
sh  waa 
^gi  yet 
i;  fresb^ 
le  Cape 
^  great 
I  white 
I  Salter 
emities 
9i  omit 

['ngalar 
lat  on 
If  mid- 
>  lighf, 
BBculty 
i^e  fre» 


21      . 

Salter  had  determined  to  stop  in  order  to  lupply 
the  ship  with  wood  and  water  before  procee<liog 
up  the  coast  to  trade.  Out  in  order  to  avoid  the 
riique  of  any  molestation  or  interruption  to  his 
men  from  the  Indians,  while  thus  employed,  he 
j)roceeded  with  the  ship  about  five  miles  to  the 
Northward  of  the  village,  which  is  situated  on 
Friendly  Cove,  and  sent  out  his  chief  mate  with 
several  of  the  crew  in  the  boat  to  find  a  good  place 
for  anchoring  her.  After  sounding  for  some  time, 
they  returned  with  information  that  they  had  dis- 
covered a  secure  place  for  anchorage,  on  the 
Western  side  of  an  inlet  or  small  bay  at  about  half 
a  mile  from  the  coast,  near  a  small  island  which 
protected  it  from  the  sea,  and  where  there  was 
plenty  of  wood  and  excellent  water.  The  ship 
accordingly  came  to  anchor  in  this  place,  at  twelve 
o^clock  at  night,  la  twelve  fathom  water>  muddy 
bottom,  and  so  near  the  shore  that  to  prevent  the 
ship  from  winding  We  secured  her  by  a  hauser  to 
the  trees.  ^ 

On  the  morning  of  the  next  day,  the  1 3th,  seve- 
ral of  the  natives  came  on  board  in  a  canoe  from 
the'  village  of  Nootka,  with  their  king,  called 
Maquina,  who  appeared  much  pleased  on  seeing  ' 
us,  and  with  great  seeming  cordiality,  welcomed 
Captain  Salter  and  his  officers  to  his  country.  As 
I  bad  never  before  beheld  a  savage  of  any  natiao^ 
it  may  readily  be  supposed  that  the  novelty  of  their 

C  3 


.("-> , 


1  I 


(   41 


22 


\  :i 


) 


-1 


I 


■'if 


^l*'' 


■|T 


ftpptmnce,   so  differfnt  frohii  any  people  that  I 
bad  hitherto  seen,  excited  in  me  strong  feelings  of 
snrprize  and  cariosity.    I  was,  however,  particu- 
larly struck  with  the  looks  of  their  king,  who  was 
a  man  of  a  dignified  aspect,  about  six  feet  in  height 
and  extremely  strait  and  well  proportioned;   his 
features  'were  in  general  good  and  his  face  was 
rendered  remarkable  by  a  large  Roman  nose,  a 
very  uncommon  form  of  feature  among  these  peo- 
ple;  his  complexion  was  of  a  dark  copper  Inie, 
though  his  face,  legs,  and  arms  were,  on  this  occa- 
sion, so  covered  with  red  paint,  that  their  natural 
colour  could  scarcely  be  perceived,  his  eye^brows 
were  painted  black  in  two  broad  stripes  like  a 
new  moon,  and  his  long  black  hair,  which  shone 
with  oil,  was  fastened  in  a  bunch  on  the  top  of 
his  head  and  strewed  or  powdered  all  over  with 
vhite  down,  which  gave  him  a  most  curious  and 
extraordinary  appearance.     He  was  dressed  in  a 
large  mantle  or  cloak  of  the  blttdt  sea  otter  skin, 
which  reached   to  his  k^ees,   and  was   fastened 
around  his  middle  by  a  broad  belt  of  the  cloth  of 
the  country,  wrought,  or  painted  with  figures  of 
several  colours ;  this  dress  was  by  no  means  un- 
becoming, but  on  the  contrary  had  an  air  of  savage 
magnificence.     His  men  were  habited  in  mantles 
of  the  same  cloth,  which  is  made  from  the  bark 
of  a  tree,  and  has  some  resemblance  to  straw  mat- 
tings these  are  nearly  square  and  have  two  holes 
in  the  upper  part  large  enough  to  admit  the  arms— 


23 


that  I 
lings  of 
[lartica- 
ho  was 
I  height 
Bd;    hia 
[ce  waa 
nose,  a 
!ae  f>eo- 
er  Irae, 
ia  occta- 
natural 
e-brows 
like  a 
:h  afaone 
i  top  of 
er  with 
oaa  and 
ed  in  a 
er  akin, 
astened 
cloth  of 
urea  of 
ans  nn- 
savage 
mantles 
le  bark 
iw  mat- 
o  holes 
arms— 


4^ 


they  reach  as  low  as  the  knees  and  are  fastened, 
round  their  bodies  with  a  belt  about  four  inches 
broad  of  the  same  cloth*  ?v  Mil  <  r,s<  .*> 


riti^'-:^: 


<        .Wl— *  t.-^»-«  ,i.       or  ;:^:t  .Tl-^  ,- 


«/:, 


7i  From  his  having  frequently  visited  the  English 
and   American  ships  that    traded    to   the  coast, 
Maqaina  had  learned  the  signification  of  a  anaa- 
ber  of  English  words,  and  in  general  could  make 
iiimself  pretty  well  understood  by  us  in  our  own 
language.     He   was  always  the  iirat  to  go   on 
board  such  ships  as  came  to  Nootka,  which  he  was 
mach  pleased  in  vtaiting,  even  when  he  had  no 
trade  to  offer,  as  lie  always  receiv«d  some  small 
present,  and  was  ia  general  extremely  well  tinted 
by  the  commanders.      He  remained  on  board  of 
as  for  some  time,  dliring  which  4he  captain  took 
htm  into  the  cabin  and  treated  him  with  a  glasa 
of  rum ;  these  people  being  very  fond  of  distilled 
ipiritSy   and  some  biscuit   and    molasses  which 
they  prefer  to  any  kind  of  food  that  we  can 
offer  them.  .  ...    ...-^ 


,  .•  •    TS'   '•■■.      I. 


■irj.-'^*iH{  *   ;v-*n?  iyfei,f4*f* 


^i^hM-  in  i'si 


A«  there  ar6  seldom  many  furs  to  be  purchased 
at  this  place  and  it  was  not  fully  the  season,  Qt^U 
Salter  had  put  in  here  not  so  much  with  an  expec- 
tation of  trending  aa  to  procure  an  ample  stock 
of  wood  and  water  lor  the  supply  of  the  ship  on 
the  coast,  tbinkiag  it  more  prudent  to  take  it  on 
board  at  Nootka,  fioiB  the  generally  friendly 
disposition  of  the  people^  thaa  to  endaqger  the 


i 


34 


ri 

i-ii ' 


safety  of  his  men  io  sendiog  them  on  shore  for 
that  purpose  among  the  more  ferocioas  natives  of 
the  north.  With  this  view,  we  immediately  set 
about  getting  our  water  casks  in  readiness,  and 
the  next  and  two  succeeding  days,  part  of  the  crew 
were  sent  on  shore  to  cut  pine  timber,  and  assist  the 
carpenter  in  making  it  into  yards  and  spars  for  the 
ship,  while  those  on  board  were  empfoyed  in  re- 
fitting the  rigging,  repairing  the  sails,  &c.  when  we 
proceeded  to  take  in  our  wood  and  water  aa  expe* 
ditiously  as  possible,  during  which  time  I  kept  my- 
self busily  employed  in  repairing  the  muskets, 
making  knives,  tomax£s,  &c.  and  doing  such  iron 
work  as  was  wanted  for  the  ship.  ^,i:',vmkK 

Meantime  more  or  less  of  the  nativea  came  on 
board  of  us  daily,  bringing  with  them  fresh  salmon 
with  which  they  supplied  us  in  great  plenty,  re- 
ceiving in  return  some  trifling  articles.  Captain 
Salter  was  always  very  particular  before  admitting 
these  people  on  board  to  see  that  they  had  no  arms 
about  them,  by  obliging  them  indiscriminately  to 
thiow  off  their  garments,  so  that  he  felt  perfectly 
lecHre  from  any  attack*      iv^   i  lOtji      . 

'^  On  the  15th  the  king  came  on  board  with  seve- 
ral of  his  chiefs;  he  was  dressed  as  before  in  his 
magnificent  otter  skin  robe,  having  his  face  highly 
painted,  and  his  hair  tossed  off  with  the  white  down 
which  looked  like  snow  \  bis  chiefs  were  dressed  in 


fr%A 


•^ 


ft*" 

V4' 


inaolles  of  the  country  cloth  of  its  natf^ral  colour, 
which  is  a  pale  yellow ;  these  were  orsamented 
with  a  broad  border,  painted  or  wrought  in  figures 
of  several  colours,  representing  men^s  iieads,  va« 
rious  animals,  &c»  and  secured  around  them  by  a 
belt  like  that  of  the  king  from  which  it  was  distin- 
guished only  by  being  narrower :  the  dress  of  the 
common  people  is  of  the  same  fashion,  and  differs 
from  that  of  the  chiefs  in  being  of  a  coarser  tex* 
ture,  and  painted  red,  of  one  uniform  colour. 


■  ■■*f'--/' 


*  »*•   -^  ivHf*  -W,'- 


Captain  Salter  invited  Maquina  and  his  chiefs 
to  dine  witli  him,  and  it  was  carious  to  see  how 
theafe  people  (when  they  eat)  scat  themselves  (in 
their  country  fashion,  upon  oar  chairs)  with  their 
feet  under  them  crossed  like  Turks.  They  cannot 
endure  the  taste  of  salt,  and  the  only  thing  they 
would  eat  with  us  was  the  ship  bread  which  they 
were  very  fond  of,  especially  when  dipped  ia 
molasses,  they  had  also  a  great  liking  for  tea  and 
coffee,  when  well  sweetened.  At  iron  weapons 
and  tools  of  almost  every  kind  are  in  much  request 
among  them,  wbeoever  thsy  came  on  board  they 
were  always  very  attentive  to  me,  crowdidf  around 
me  at  the  forge,  as  if  to  see  in  what  manner  I  di<! 
my  work,  and  in  this  Way  bedirae  quite  fiamiliar, 
a  circumstance,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  end,  of  great 
importance  to  noe.  The  salmon  which  they 
brought  u«  furnished  ft  most  delicioof  treat  to 


I  ill 


Wl 


■  ( ■  ■ 

-:f 

■  t .; 


i: 


I 


I 


11 

I 


n 


m 


iii; 

lit. 


'<>!' 


2« 

men  who  for  a  long  time  had  lived  wholly  on  rait 
provisions  excepting  such  few  sea  fish  as  we  had 
the  good  fortune  occasionally  to  take.  We  in- 
deed feasted  most  luxuriously,  and  flattered  our- 
selves that  we  should  not  want  while  on  the  coast 
for  plenty  of  fresh  -provisioDs,  little  imagining  the 
fate  that  awaited  us,  and  that  this  dainty  food  was 
to  prove  the  unfortunate  lure  to  oar  destruetion  ! 

,  On  the  1 9th,  the  king  came  again  on  board,  and 
was  invited  by  the  Captain  to  dine  with  him.  He 
had  much  conversation  with  Captain  Salter,  and  in- 
formed him  that  there  were  plenty  of  wild  ducks 
and  geese  near  Friendly  Cove,  on  which  the  Cap- 
tain made  him  a  present  of  a  doable-barrelled  fowl- 
ing piece,  with  which  he  appeared  to  be  greatly 
pleased,  and  soon  after  went  on  shore. 

On  the  20th  we  were  nearly  ready  for  oar  depar- 
ture, having  taken  in  what  wood  and  water  we 
were  in  want  of*  ^ 


i  «  ."  ;•' 


The  next  day  Maqaina  came  on  board  with  nine 
pair  of  wild  ducks,  as  a  preseoty  at  the  same  time 
lie  brought  with  him  the  gun,  one  of  the  locks  of 
which  he  had  broken,  telling  the  Captaio  that  it 
mMpeshaky  that  is  bad.  Captain  Salter  was  very 
much  ofifended  at  this  observation,  and  considering 
it  a»  a  mark  of  contempt  for  bis  present,  he  calM 


fer* 


•i 


•     2T     • 

t!ie  king  a  liar,  adding  other  opprpbrious  termSf 
and  taking  the  gnc  from  him,  tossed  it  indignantly 
into  the>cabin,  and  calling  me  to  him,  said^  ^  John, 
this  fellow^  has  broken  this  beautiful  fowling  piece, 
aee  if  you  can  mend  it  :^     On  examining  it  I  told 
him  that  it  could  be  done.     As  I   have  already 
observed,    Maqnina  knew  a  number  of   English 
words,  and  unfortunately  understood  but  too  well 
the  meaning  of  the  reproachful  terms  that  the  Cap- 
tain addressed  to  him.     He  said  not  a  word  in 
reply,  but  his  countenance  sufficiently  expres^^ed 
the  rage  he  felt,  though  he  exerted  himself  lo  sup- 
press it,  and  I  observed  him   while  the  Captain 
was  speaking,  repeatedly  pul  bis  hand  to  his  throat, 
and  rub  it  upon  his  bosom,  "which  he  afterwards 
told  me  was  to  keep  down  his  heart,  which  was 
lisihg  into  his  throat  and  choaking  him.     He  sooq 
after  went  on  shore  with  his  men,  evidently  much 
discomposed. 


On  the  morning  of  the  22d,  the  natives  came  off 
to  us  as  usual  w  ith  salmon,  and  remained  on  board  ; 
when  about  noon  Maquina  came  along  side,  with 
a  considerable  number  of  his  chiefs  and  men  in  their 
canoes,  who  after  going  tbrou^^h  the  cu.stomary 
«][amination,  were  admitted  into  the  ship.  He 
had  a  whistle  in  his  hand,  and  over  his  face  a 
very  ugly  mask  of  wood,  representiug  the  head  of 
gome  wild  beast,  appeared  to  be  remarkably  good 
humoured  and  gay,  and  whilst  his  people  sung 


,    !■   if 


'I 


Mi, 


l\ 


28 

«Dd  capered  about  the  deok^  eDteHainiflg  ua  witli 
a  variety  of  anac  trick  and  gestures,  he  blew  his 
Avhjstle  to  a  kind  of  tune  which  seemed  to  regn- 
•}ate  their  motions.  As  Captain  Salter  was  walking 
on  the  quarter  deck,  amusing  himself  with  their 
dancing,  the  king  came  up  to  him,  and  inquired 
when  he  intended  to  go  to  sea?  He  answered  to- 
niorrow.  Maquina  then  said,  *  yon  love  salmon — 
much  in  Friendly  Cove,  why  not  go  then  and 
catch  some?*  The  Captain  thought  that  it  would 
be  very  desirable  to  have  a  good  supply  of  these 
fish  for  the  voyage,  and  on  consulting  with  ^r. 
Delouisa,  it  was  agreed  to  send  part  of  the  crew 
on  shore  after  dinner  with  the  seine,  in  order  to  pro- 
cure a  quantity.  Macquina  and  his  chiefs  staid 
and  dined  on  board,  and  after  dinner  the  chief  mate 
went  off  with  nine  men  in  the  jolly-boat  and  yawl, 
to  fish  at  Friendly  Cove,  having  set  the  steward 
on  shore  at  our  watering  place,  to  wash  the  Cap- 
tain's clothes. 


(■n 


Shortly  after  the  departure  of  the  boats,  I  went 
^own  to  my  viee  bench  in  the  steerage,  where  I 
was  employed  in  cleaning  muskets.  I  had  not 
been  there  more  than  an  hour,  when  I  heard  the 
men  hoisting  in  the  king  boat,  which,  in  a  few 
minutes  after,  was  succeeded  by  a  great  bustle 
and  confusion  on  deck.  I  immediately  ran  up 
the  steerage  stairs,  but  scarcely  was  my  head 
•above  deck,  when  1  was  caught  by  the  hair  by 


[f 


29  7 

«ne  of  the  savages,  and  lifted  from  my  feet;  for- 
tunately for  me,  my  hair  being  short,  and  the  rib- 
bon with  which  it  was  tied  slipping,  I  fell  from 
his  hold  into  the  steerage.  As  I  was  falling,  he 
struck  at  me  with  an  axe,  which  cut  a  deep  gash  in 
my  forehead,  and  penetrated  the  skull,  but  in  conse- 
quence of  his  losing  his  hold,  I  luckily  escaped 
the  full  force  of  the  blow;  which,  otherwise,  would 
have  cleft  my^  head  in  two.  I  fell,  stunned 
and  senseless,  upon  the  floor — how  long  I  conti- 
nued in  this  situation  I  know  not,  but  on  recover- 
ing my  senses,  the  first  thing  that  I  did,  was  to 
try  to  get  up ,  but  so  weak  was  f ,  from  the  loss 
uf  blood,  that  I  fainted  and  fell.  I  was,  however, 
soon  recalled  to  my  recollection  by  three  loud 
shouts  or  yells  from  the  savages,  which  convinced 
me  that  they  had  got  posession  of  the  ship.  It  is 
impossible  for  me  to  describe  my  feelings  at  this 
terrific  sound.  Some  faint  idea  may  be  formed 
of  them  by  those  who  have  known  what  it  is  to 
half  waken  from  a  hideous  dream  and  still  think  it 
real.  Never,  no,  never  shall  I  lose  from  my  mind 
the  impression  of  that  dreadful  moment.  I  ex« 
pected  every  instant  to  share  the  wretched  fate  of 
my  unfortunate  companions,  and  when  1  heard  the 
song  of  triumph,  by  which  these  infernal  yells  was 
succeeded,  my  blood  ran  cold  in  my  veins. 


Bffli 


n 


Having  at  length  sufficiently  recovered  my  senses 
Vo  look  aiuuud  me,  after  wiping  tbe  blood  from  mj 


'i; 


ilf 


i 


lilt ' 

M 


.      ''Jt 


t    )■     I 


30 

eyea,  I  saw  that  the  hatch  of  the  steerage  was  shat. 
This  was  done  as  I  afterwards  discovered,  by  order 
of  Maquioa,  who  od  seeing  the  savage  strike  at 
me  with  the  axe,  told  him  not  to  hurt  me,  for  that  I 
was  the  armourer,  and  would  be  useful  to  them  in 
repairing  their  arms:  while  at  the  same  time  to 
prevent  any  of  his  men  from  injuring  me,  he ,  had 
the  hatch  closed.  But  to  me  this  circumstance  wore 
a  very  different  appearance,  for  I  thought  that 
these  barbarians  had  only  prolonged  my  life  in  order 
to  deprive  me  of  it  by  the  most  cruel  tortures. 


I  remained  in  this  horrid  state  of  suspense  for  a 
▼ery  long  time,  when  at  length  the  batch  was  open* 
ed«  and  Maquina,  calling  me  by  name,, ^ordered 
me  to  come  up.  I  groped  my  way  up'lEis  well 
as  I  was  able  being  almost  blinded  with  the  blood 
that  flowed  from  my  wound,  and  so  weak  as 
with  difficulty  to  walk.  The  king,  on  perceiving 
my  situation,  ordered  one  of  his  men  to  bring 
a  pot  of  water  to  wash  the  blood  from  my  face, 
which  having  done,  I  was  able  to  see  distinctly  with 
one  of  my  eyes,  but  the  other  was  so  swollen  from 
my  wound,  that  it  was  closed.  But  what  a  teriSe 
spectacle  met  my  eyes  :  six  naked  savages,  stand- 
ing in  a  circle  around  me,  covered  with  the  blood  of 
my  murdered  comrades,  with  their  daggers  uplifted 
in  their  hands,  prepared  to  strike.  I  now  thought 
my  last  moment  had  come,  and  recommended  my 
soul  to  my  Maker*  -^ 


81  , 

The  kiag  who,  as  I  have  already  observed,  knew 
enough  of  English  to  make  himself  understood,  en 
tered  the  circle,  and  placing  liimfeif  before  me,  ad- 
dressed me  nearly  in  the  following  words — ^^  John 
— I  speak — you  no  say  no — You  say  no—daggers 
come  !^*     He  then  asked  me  if  1  would  be  his  slave 
during  my  life — If  I  would  fight  for  him  in  his 
battles — If  I  would  repair  his  muskets  and  make 
daggers  and   knives  for  him — with  several  otler 
questions,  to  all  of  which  I  was  careful  to  answer, 
yes.     He  then  told  me  that  he  would  spare  my  life, 
and  ordered  me  to  kiss  his  hands  and  feet  to  show 
my  BubmissioD  to  him,  which  I  did.— In  the  mean 
time  bis  people  were  very  clamorous  to  have  me  put 
to  death,  so  that  there  should  be  none  of  us  left  to 
tell  oar  story  to  our  countrymen,  and  prevent  them 
from  coming  to  trade  with  them ;  but  the  king,  in 
the  most  determined  manner,  opposed  their  wishes, 
and  to  his  faronr  em  I  wholly  indebted  for  my 
being  yet  among  the  living. 


i  < 


'  As  I  was  busy  at  work  at  the  time  of  the  at* 
tack,  I  was  without  my  coat,  and  what  with  the 
coldness  of  the  weather,  my  feebleness  from  loss 
of  blood,  the  paio  of  my  wound  and  the  extreme 
agitation  and  terror  that  I  still  felt,  I  shook  like  a 
leaf,  which  the  king  observing,  went  into  the  ca- 
bin, and  bringing  up  a  great  coat  that  belonged 
to  the  captain,  threw  it  over  my  shoulders,  telling 
me  to  drink  some  rum  from  a  bottle  which  he 


flKtUJ 


I, 


t:  (!(! 


(  ■ 


liri! 


^ 


32 

handed  me,  at  the  same  lime  giving  me  to  nnder- 
Btand  that  it  would  be  good  for  me,  and  keep  me 
i'rom  trembling  as  1  did.  1  took  a  draught  of  it, 
after  which,  taking  me  by  the  hand,  he  Jed  me 
to  the  quarter  deck,  where  the  most  horrid  sight 
presented  itself  that  ever  my  eyes  witnesed — the 
}iei)ds  of  our  unfortunate  captain  and  his  crew, 
to  the  number  of  twenty-five,  were  all  arranged 
iu  a  line,  and  Maquina  ordering  one  o!  his  people 
1o  bring  a  head,  asked  me  whose  it  was :  I  an- 
swered, the  captain^s;  in  like  manner  the  others 
were  shewed  me,  and  1  told  him  the  names,  ex- 
cepting a  few  that  were  so  horribly  mangled  that 
J  was  not  able  to  recognize  them. 


\ii 


I  now  discovered  that  all  our  unfortunate  crew 
had  been  massacred,  and  learned,  that  after  getting 
possession  of  the  ship,  the  savL^es  had  broke  open 
the  arm  ch«*8t  and  magazine,  and  supplying  them- 
selves with  ammunition  and  arms,  sent  a  party  on 
shore  to  attack  our  men,  who  had  gone  thither  to 
iish,  and  bein^  joined  by  numbers  from  the  village, 
^vifhoQi  L^i^culty  overpowered  and  murdered  them, 
and  cutting  off  their  heads,  brought  them  on  board, 
after  throwing  their  bodies  into  the  sea  :  On  look- 
ing upon  the  deck,  I  saw  it  entirely  covered  with 
the  blood  of  my  poor  comrades,  whose  throats 
had  been  cut  with  their  own  jack-knives,  the  sa- 
vages having  seized  the  opportunity  while  they 
were  busy  in  hoisting  in  the  boat,  to  grapple  with 


■33 

them,  and  overpower  them  by  their  numbers;  ia^ 
the  scaffle  the  captain  was  thrown  overboard, 
and  dispatched  by  those  io  the  caooes,  who  irome* 
diately  cut  off  his  head :  What  I  felt  on  this 
occasion,  may  be  more  readily  conceived  than 
expressed. 


w 


>•»«»" 


./ 


Ji  J..;' 


t>  •;i:^,7 


'  After  I  had  adswered  his  questions,  Maqulna 
took  my  silk  handkerchief  from  my  neck,  and 
bound  it  around  my  bead,  placing  over  the  wound 
a  leaf  of  tobacco,  of  which  we  had  a  quantity  on 
board*  This  was  done  at  my  desire,  as  I  had 
often  found,  from  personal  experience,  the  benefit 
of  this  application  io  cuts. 


iii:» 


erfk 


i«H4   :;  At  I    ':!>;"  5    «' 


f'i 


Maquina  then  ordered  me  to  get  the  ship  under 
weigh  for  Friendly  Cove.  This  I  did  by  cutting 
the  cables,  and  sending  some  of  the  natives  aloft 
to  loose  the  sails,  whicli  they  performed  in  a  very 
bungling  manner.  But  they  succeeded  so  far  in 
loosing  the  jib  and  top-sails,  that,  with  the  ad  van* 
tage  of  fair  wind,  I  succeeded  in  getting  the  ship 
into  the  Cove,  where,  by  order  of  the  king,  I  ran 
her  ashore  on  a  sandy  beach,  al  eight  o^clock  at 


•J  .  -  -'^    f^l 


iMl 


•;-j* 


We  were  received  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Tillage,  men,  women,  and  children,  with  loud 
shouts  of  joy,  and  a  most  horrible  drumming  with 
sticks  upon  thej  roofs  and  sides  of  their  housesi 

D  3 


ill 


•:  I 


I  i' 


'Bt 


;  t 


U4 


i  ■•' 


s  rl;i 


r 


If. 


34 

io  which  they  had  aUo  stuck  a  great  number  of 
lighted  pioe  torches,  to  welcome  their  king's  re* 
turn,  and  congratulate  him  ou  the  success  of  his 
enlerprize.  .  ^,  ,, 

Maqatna  then  took  me  on  shore  to  his  house, 
which  was  very   large,  and  filled  with  people — 

'where  I  was  received  with  much  kindness  by  the 
women,  particularly  those  belonging  to  the  king, 
who  had   no  less  than  nine  wives,  all  pf  whom 

'  came  around  me,  expressing  much  sympathy  for 
my   misfortune,  gently  stroking  and  patting    my 

^  head  in  an  encouraging  and  soothing  manner, 
with  words  expressive  of  condolence.  How  sweet 
is  compassion  even  from  savages !  Those  who 
have  been  in  a  similar  situation,  can  alone  truly 
appreciate  its  value. 


fi 


m 


In  the  mean  time,  all  the  warriors  of  the  tribe, 
to  the  number  of  five  hundred,  had  assembled  at 
the  king's  house,  to  rejoice  for  their  s  -;ess.  They 
exulted  greatly  in  having  taken  our  ship,  and  each 
one  boasted  of  his  own  particular  exploits  in  killing 
our  men,  but  they  were  in  general  much  dissa- 
tisfied with  my  having  been  suffered  to  live,  and 
were  very  urgent  with  Maquina  to  deliver  me  to 
them,  to  be  put  to  death,  which  he  obstinately 
refused  to  do,  telling  them  that  he  had  promised 
me  my  life,  and  would  not  break  his  word ;  and 


'v^mi 


.i^,:'4 


35 

that  betidfi,   I  knew  how  to  repair  and  to  make 
aroif,  and  should  be  of  great  use  to  them. 

The  king  then  seated   m£  by  him,* and  ordered 
his  women  to  bring  him  something  to  rat,  when 
they  set  before  him  some  dried  clams  and  train 
oil,  of  which  he  ate  very  heartily,  and  encouraged 
me  to  follow  his  example,  telling  me  to  eat  muclf| 
and  take  a  great  d&al  of  oil,  which  would  make 
me  strong  and   fat ;    notwithstanding    his   praise 
of   this  new  kind  of  food,    I  felt  no  disposition 
to  indulge  in  it,  both  the  smell  and  taste  being 
loathsome  to  me;  and  had  it  been  otherwise,  such, 
was  the  pain  I  endured,  Jhe  agitation  of  my  mind,, 
and  the  gloomines  of  my  reflections,  that  I  should, 
have  felt  very  little  inclination  for  eating.  f|^ 

Not  satisfied  with  his  first  refusal  to  deliver  me 
up  to  them,  the  people  again  became  clamorous 
that  Maquina  should  consent  to  my  being  killed, 
saying  that  not  one  of  us  ought  to  be  left  alive 
to  give  information  to  others  of  ojr  countrymen, 
and  prevent  them  from  coming  to  trade,  or  induce 
them  to  revenge  the  destruction  of  our  ship,  and 
they  at  length  became  so  boisterous,  that  he  eaught 
up  a  large  club  in  a  passion,  and  drove  them  all 
out  of  the  house.  During  this  scene,  a  son  of  the 
king,  about  eleven  years  old,  attracted  no  doubt  by 
the  singularity  of  my  appearance,  came  up  to  me : 
I  carewed  him;  he  returned  my  attentions  with 


ill 


'I 


'  ''I 


ii 


hi 


30 

...»  , 

much  apparent  pleasure,  and  consideriDg  this  as 
a  fortuoate  opportanity  to  gain  the  good  will  of  the  ' 
father,  I  took  the  child  on  my  knee,  and  cutting 
the  metal  buttons  from  off  the  coat  I  had  on,  I  tied^ 
them  around  his  neck.  At  this  he  was  highly 
delighted,  and  became  so  much  attached  to  me^ 
tl^t  he  would  not  quit  me.  ,  ^    u  j.^;  .. 

,  •  19  -,,,■" 

The  king  appeared  much  pleased  with  my  atten- 
tion to  his  son,  and  telling  me  that  it  was  time  to 
go  to  slee^  directed  me  to  lie  with  his  son  next  to 
him,  as  he  was  afraid  lest  some  of  his  people  would 
come  while  iie  was  asleep  and  kill  me  with  their 
daggers.  I  lay  down  as  he  ordered  me,  but  neither 
the  state  of  my  mind  nor  the  pain  I  felt  would 
aflow  me  to  sleep.  V 


i  I 


About  midnight  I  was  greatly  alarmed  by  the 
approach  of  one  of  the  natives,  who  came  to  give 
information  to  the  king  that  there  was  one  of  the' 
white  men  alive,  who  had  knocked  him  down 
M  he  went  on  board  the  ship  at  night.  This  Ma- 
quina  communicated  to  me,  giving  me  to  undeir- 
ttand  that  as  soon  as  the  aun  rose  he  should  kill  him. 
1  endeavoured  to  persuade  him  to  spare  his  life, 
bat  he  ifade  me  be  silent  and  go  to  sleep.  I  said 
Doihing  more  but  lay  revolving  in  my  mind  what 
method  I  couid  devise  to  save  the  life  of  this  man.  "^^ 
What  a  consolation  thought  I,  what  a  happiness 
woaid  it  prove  to  me  in  my  forlorn  state  among 


h  f 


sr 

these  heathens,  to  have  a  Christiao  aod  one  of  my 
own  couotrymeo  for  a  companioD,  and  how  greatly 
Mould  it  alleviate  and  lighten  the  burden  of  ray 
slavery.       ..,;.,.,    ,^  ^   ,  -..,,._^ 

As  I  was  thinking  of  some  plan  for  his  preserva- 
tioa,  it  all  at  once  came  into  my  mind  that  this 
nian  was  probably  the  sail  maker  of  the  ship,  named» 
Thompson,  as  I  had  not  seen  his  head  among  those 
on  deck  and  knew  that  he  was  below  at  work  upon 
sails  not  long  before  the  attack.  The  more  I 
thought  of  it  the  more  probable  it  appeared  to  me, 
and  as  Thompson  was  a  man  nearly  forty  years  of 
age,  and  had  an  old  look,  I  conceived  it  would  be 
easy  to  make  him  pass  for  my  father,  and  by  this 
means  prevail  on  Maquina  to  spare  his  life.  To- 
wards morning  I  fell  into  a  doze,  but  was  awakened 
with  the  first  beams  of  the  sun  by  the  king,  who 
told  me  he  was  going  to  Lill  the  man  who  was  on 
board  the  ship,  and  ordered  me  to  accompany  him. 
I  rose  and  followed  him,  leading  with  me  the  young 
prince,  his  son.        ^.  * ,     ; 

On  coming  to  the  beach  I  found  all  the  men  of 
the  tribe  assembled.  The  king  addressed  them, 
saying  that  one  of  the  white  men  had  been  found 
alive  on  board  the  ship,  and  requested  their  opinior 
as  to  saving  his  life  or  putting  him  to  death.  They 
were  unanimously  for  the  latter:  This  deter- 
mination he  made  known  to  me.     Having  arranged 


¥^ 


tr- 


.'I 


!  'h 


)'■  ii 


'. 


■    s 

■     .  I 

(     ; 

j  vll 

I'i 


38 


m 


»y  plaD,  I  asked  him,  pointing  to  the  boy,  whom 
I  still  held  by  the  hand,  if  he  loved  his  son,  he 
answered  that  he  did;  I  then  asked  the  child  if 
be  loved  his  father,  and  on  his  replying  in  the 
affirmative,  I  said,  and  ^^  I  also  love  mine.  I 
then  threw  myself  on  my  knees  at  Maquina^s  feel, 
and  implored  bin,  with  tears  in  my  eyes,  to  spare 
•my  father's  life,  if  the  man  on  hoard  should  prove 
to  be  him,  telling  him  that  if  he  killed  my  father. 
It  was  my  wish  that  he  shodid  kill  me  too,  and 
that  if  he  did  not,  I  would  kill  myself, — and  that 
he  would  thus  lose  my  services;  whereas,  by 
iparing  my  father's  life,  he  would  preserve  mint, 
which  would  be  of  great  advantage  to  him,  by  my 
xepairing  and  making  arms  for  him. 


"j   *:•.         '*       iC  fr<  ij?'-  .>f  »«   "-.-r,*,.       IL^y.*-     fv 


,>*■/  )rf»   <feVS 


Maquina,  appeared  moved  by  my  entreaties,  and 
promised  not  to  put  the  man  to  death  if  he  should 
be  my  father.  He  then  explained  to  his  people 
'  what  I  had  said,  and  ordered  me  to  go  on  board, 
and  tell  the  man  to  come  on  shore.  To  my  un» 
gpeakable  joy,  on  going  into  the  hold,  I  found 
that  my  conjecture  was  true.  Thomson  was  there^ 
he  had  escaped  without  any  injury,  excepting  a 
slight  wound  in  the  nose,  given  him  by  one  of  the 
savages  with  a  knife,  as  he  attempted  to  come  on 
deck,  during  the  scuffle.  Finding  the  savages  in 
possession  of  the  ship,  as  he  afterwards  informed 
roe,  he  secreted  himself  in  the  hold,  hoping  far 
some  chance  to  make  his  escape-^bnt  that  the  In- 


39 

dian  who  came  on  board  io  the  uight,  approaching 
the  place  where  he  was,  he  supposed  himself  dis- 
covered, and  being  determined  to  sell  his  life  a« 
dearly  as  possible,  as  soon  as  he  came  within  his 
reach,  he  knocked  him  down,  but  the  Indian  imme- 
diately springing  np  ran  off  at  full  speed.     ,  j, 

I  informed  him,  in  a  few  words,  that  all  our  men  * 
had  been  killed ;  that  the  king  had  preserved  my 
life,  and  had  consented  to  spare  his  on  the  sup- 
position that  he  was  my  father,  an  opinion  which  he 
must  be  careful  not  to  undeceive  them  in,  as  it 
was  his  onl/  safety.     A.fter  giving  him  his  cue,  I 
went  on  shore  with  him,  and  presented   him  to 
Maquina,  who  immediately  knew  him  to  be  the 
sailmaker,  and  was  much  pleased,  observing  that 
he  could  make  sails  for  bis  canoe.     He  thv^n  took 
.  us  to  his  house,  and  ordered  something  for  us  to 


eat. 


On  the  24tb  and  25th,  the  natives  were  busily 
employed  in  taking  the  cargo  out  of  the  ship,  strip- 
ping her  of  her  sails  and  rigging,  cutting  away  the 
spars  and  masts,  and  in  short,  rendering  her  m  com- 
plete a  wreck  as  possible, them  uskets,  ammunition, 
cloth,  and  all  the  pripcipal  articles  taken  from  her, 
being  deposited  in  the  king's  bouse.     ^  r ,  . 

While  they  were  thua  occupied,  each  one  taking 
what  he  liked,  my  companion  and  myself  being 


'  i' 


•4 


'  u 


■if 


m 


I 


^■f 


40 


li  H  )■ 


obliged  to  aid  them,   I  thought  it  best  to  secure 
the  accouDls  and  papers  of  the  ship,  in  hopes  that 
on  some  future  day,  I  might  have  it  in  my  power 
to  restore  tliem  to  the  owners.     With  this  view  1 
took  possession  of  the  captain^s  writing  desk,  which 
contained  the   most  of  them,  together  with  some 
paper  and  implements  for  writing.     I  had  also  the 
good  fortune  to  find  a  blank  account  book,  in  which 
1  resolved,  should  it  be  permitted  me,  to  write  an 
account  of  our  capture,  and  the  most  remarkable 
occurrences  that  I  should  meet  with  during  my  stay 
among    these    people,   fondly  indulging  the  hope 
that  it  woul(f  not  be  long  before  some  vessel  would 
arrive  to  release  us.     I  likewise  found  in  the  cabin, 
a  small  volume  of  sermons,  a  bible,  and  a  common- 
prayer  book  of  the  Church  of  England,  which  fur- 
nished me  and  my  comrade  great  consolation  in  the 
midst  of  our  mournful  servitude,  and  enabled  me, 
under  the  favour  of  Divine  Providence,  to    sup- 
port, with  firmness,  the  miseries  of   a  life  which 
1  might  otherwise  have  found  beyond  my  strength 
to  endure« 


f  >''■ 


if;:: 


'  1- 1 


As  these  people  set  no  value  upon  things  of  this 
kind,  I  found  no  difficulty  in  appropriating  th'  m  to 
myself,  by  putting  them  in  my  chest  which  though 
it  had  been  brokeQ  open  and  rified  by  the  savage^s, 
as  I  still  had  the  key,  I  without  much  dillicuity 
secured.  In  this  I  also  put  some  small  tot. is  be- 
longing to  the  Khip,    with  several  other  articles, 


*  -. 


(  i 


41 

l^artkulatly  a  joaraalk^pt  by  (he>»ecoQ(l  mate,  Mr. 
Ingraham,  aad  a  collection  of  drawiogs  and  views 
of  places  taken  by  him,  which  I  bad  the  good  for- 
tune to  preserve,  and  on  my  arrival  at  Boston,  £ 
gave  them  to  a  connection  of  his,  the  honoarable 
Jadge  Pawes,  who  sent  them  to  his  family  in  New 
York.  '  • 


'h;     , 


.    ! 


On  tlie  26th,  two  ships  were  seen  standing  in  for 
FrieDdly  Gove.  At  their  first  appearance  the  in- 
habitants were  thrown  into  great  confusion,  but 
soon  collecting  a  niiHiber  of  mnakets  and  blunder- 
busses, ran  to  the  shore,  from  whence  they  kept 
up  so  brisk  a  fire  at  th^m,  that  they  were  evidently 
afraid  to  approach  nearer,  and  after  firiug  a  few 
rounds  (^ grape  shot  which  did  no  harm  io  any  one, 
they  w^yeship  and  stood  out  to  sea.  These  ship?, 
as  I  . afterwards  learned,  were  the  Mary  and  Juno 
of  Boston. 

Tbey  were  soarceily  out  of  sight  when  Maqaina 
expressed  imich  regret  that  he  had  permitted  his 
people  to  fire  at  them,  being  apprehensive  that 
they  would  give  information  to  others  in  what 
manner  they  had  been  received,  and  prevent  them 
from  ooming  to  trade  with  hi«i. 

A  few  days  after  hearing  of  the  capture  of  the 
ship,  there  arrived  at  Nootka  a  great  aumber  of 
canoes  filled  with  savages  from  no  less  than  fwenty 

E 


!,'i! 


(  . 


I'!.',';  ' 


i 


fell 


I' 


s 


i 


i     i:i. 


M 


fii: 
III 

I  Hi 

If  i';. : 


42 

tribes  to  the  North  and  Sout)).  Among  those  from 
the  North  were  the  Ai-tiz^arts,  Schoo- mad-its, 
Nea-wit-ties,  Savin-nars,  Ah-owz-arts,  Mo-watch- 
its,  Suth-setts,  Neu-chad-litc,  Mich-la-its  and  Cay- 
u-quet9;  the  most  of  whom  were  considered  as  tri- 
butary to  Nootka.  From  the  Suuth,  the  Aytch-arts 
and  Esqm-ates  also  tributary,  with  the  Kla-oo- 
quates,  and  the  Wickannish,  a  large  and  powerful 
tribe  abdut  two  hundred  miles  distant.  These  last 
were  better  clad'than  most  of  the  others,  and  their 
cauoes  wrought  with  much  greater  skill ;  they  are 
furnished  with  sails  as  weH  as  paddles,  and  with  the 
advantage  of  a  fair  breeze,  are  usually  but  twenty- 
lour  hours  on  their  passage. 

Maquina,  who  was  very  proud  of  bis  new  ac- 
quisition, was  desirous  of  welcoming  these  visitors 
in  the  European  manner.  He  accordingly  ordered 
his  men,  as  the  canoes  approached,  to  assemble  on 
the  beach  with  loaded  muskets  and  blunderbusses, 
placi!ig  Thompson  at  the  cannon  which  had  been 
brought  from  the  ship  and  laid  upon  two  long  sticks 
of  timber  in  front  of  the  village,  then  taking  a 
speaking  trumpet  in  his  hand,  he  ascended  with 
me,  the  roof  of  his  house,  and  began  drumming  or 
beating  upon  the  boards  with  a  sUck  most  vio- 
lently. * 

Nothing  could  be  more  ludicrous  than  the  ap- 
pearance of  this  motly  groupe  of  savages  collected 


43 


on  the  shore,  dressed  as  they  were,  with  their  ill- 
gotten  finery,  in  the  most  fantastic  nianner,  some 
in  women's  smocks,  taken  from  our  cargo,  others  in 
Kotsacks^  (or  cloaks)  of  blue,  red  or  yellow  broad- 
cloth, with  stockings  drawn  over  their  heads,  aiid 
their  necks  hung  round  with  numbers  of  powder- 
horns,  shot-bags,  and  cartouch-boxes,  some  of  thetn 
having  no  less  than  ten  muskets  a  piece  on  their 
shoulders,  and  five  or  »ix  daggers  in  their  girdles. 
Diverting  indeed  was  it  to  see  them  all  squatted 
upon  the  beach,  holding  their  muskets  perpendicu- 
larly,  with  the  butt  pressed  upon  the  sand,  instead 
of  against  their  shoulders,   and  in   this  position 
awaiting  the  order  to  fire.     Maquina,  at  last^  cal- 
led to  them  with  his  trumpet  to  fire,  which  they  did 
in  the  most  awkward  and  timid  manner,  with  theijr 
muskets  hard  pressed  upon  the  ground  as  above- 
mentioned.     At  the  same  moment  the  cannon  was 
fired  by  Thompson,  immediately  on  which  they 
threw  themselves  back  and  began  to  roll  and  tumble 
over  the  sand  as  if  they  had  been  shot,  when  sud- 
denly springing  up,  they  began  a  song  of  triumph 
and  running  backward  and  forward  upon  the  shore, 
with  the  wildest  gesticulations,  boasted  of   their 
explmts,  and  exhibited  as  trophies,  what  they  had 
taken  from  as.     Notwithstanding  the  unpleasant- 
ness of  my  situation,  and  the  feelings  that  this 
display  of  our  spoils  excited,  I  could  not  avoid 
laughing  at  the  strange  appearance  of  these  ffa- 

E  2 


t     ■-!! 


J   \:i 


44 

rages,  their  awkward  movement#,  and  the  bId 
gular  contrast  of  their  dress  and  arms. « 

When  the  ceremony  was  concluded,  Maquina^ 
iovited  the  strangers  to  a  feai>t  at  his  hoas«,  con- 
msllDg  of  whale  blubber,  »moked  herring  spawn^ 
and  dried  fish  and  train  oil,  of  which  they  eat  most 
pientifully.     The  feast  being  over,  the  trayv,  o«t< 
of  which  they  eat,  and  other  things  were  mmt" 
diately  Removed  to  make  room  for  the  dance,  whicEii 
ivas  to  close  the  entertainment.    This  was  per- 
formed by  Mitquina^s  son,  the  young  pvince  8at« 
.eat-sok-sis,    whom  I  have  already  spoken  ofy  iiy 
the   following   manner: — Three   of   the  principal 
chiefs,   drest   in  "their  otter-skin  mantles,   whicb 
they  wear  only  on  extraordinary  occasions  and  at 
festivals,   having  their  beada  covered  over  with 
white  down,  and  their  faces  higMy  painted,  caine 
forward  into  the  middie  of  the  room,  each  furnished 
with  a  bag  filled  with  white  down,  which  they 
scattered  around  in  such  a  manner  as  U>  represent 
a  fall  of  snow.    These  were  followed  by  the  young 
prince^  who  was  dressed  in  a  long  piece  of  yellow 
cloth,  wrapped  loosely  around  him,  and  decorated 
with  small  bells,  \i'iih  a  cap  on  bis  head,  to  which 
was  fastened  a  curious    ma&k  in   Hnitaliion  of  a 
wolf^s  head^   while  the  rear  was  brought  up  by 
ihe  king  himself,  in  his  robe  of  sea-otter  skin,  with 
a  small  whistle  in  his  mouth  and  a  rattle  in  hit 
hand,  with  which  he  kept  time  to  a  sort  of  tuue 


45 

on  bis  whistle.  After  passing  very  rapidly  io  this 
order  around  the  house,  each  of  them  seated  him- 
self, except  the  prince,  who  immediately  began 
his  dance,  which  principally  consisted  in  springing 
up  into  the  air  in  a  squat  posture,  and  constantly 
turning  around  on  his  heels  with  great  swiftnessy  in 
a  very  narrow  circle. 

This  dance,  with  a  few  intervals  of  rest,  was' 
continued  for  about  two  hours,  during  which  the 
chiefs  kept  up  a  constant  dramming  with  sticks 
of  about  a  foot  in  length  on  a  long  hollow  plank, 
which  was,  though  a  very  noisy,  a  most  doleful 
kind  of  music.  This  they  accompanied  with  songs, 
the  king  himself  acting  as  chorister,  while  the 
women  applauded  each  feat  of  activity  in  the 
dancer,  by  repeating  the  words,  IVocash!  IVocath 
T^ee!  that  is  good!  very  good  prince. 


|!i 


;  !' 


As  soon  as  the  dance  was  finished,  Maquina  be- 
gan to  give  presents  tc  strangers,  in  the  name 
of  his  son  Sat-sat-sok-sii^  These  were  pieces  of 
European  cloth,  generally  of  a  fathom  in  length, 
muskets,  powder,  shot,  &c.  Whenever  he  gave 
them  any/  thing,  they  had  a  peculiar  aianner  of 
snatching  it  from  him  with  a  very  stern  and  surly 
look,  repeating  each  time  the  words,  iVocasIi 
Tyee.  This  I  understood  to  be  their  custom,  and 
was  considered  as  a  compliment,  which  if  omitted, 
would  be  supposed  as  a  mark  of  disregard  for  the 

E  3 


[ 


V-\ 


\ 


I 

i 


i  si!  ^  / 


m 


\  1  ,7 


M 


m  ^ ' 


\  :e 


M'^ 


\  [':. 


I 


I  if 


M, 


1U 


III 


46 

prenent.  Oo  this  occasion,  Maquioa  gave  away 
no  lesi  than  one  hundred  muskets,  the  same  num- 
ber of  looking-glasses.;  four  hundred  yards  of  cloth, 
and  twenty  casks  of  powder,  beside  other  things. 

After  I'eceiving  these  presents,  the  strangers  re- 
tired on  board  their  canoes,  for  so  numerous  were 
they,  that  Maquina  would  not  suffer  any  but  the 
chiefs  to  sleep  in  the  houses ;  and  in  order  to  pre- 
vent the  property  from  *)eing  pillaged  by  them,  he 
.  ordered  Thompson  and  myself  to  keep  guard,  dur- 
ing the  night,  armed  with  cutlasses  and  pistols. 

In  this  manner  tribes  of  savages  from  various 
parts  of  the  coast,  continued  coming  for  several 
days,  bringing  with  them,  blubber,  oil,  herring- 
spawn,  dried  fish  and  clams,  for  which  they  re- 
ceived, in  return',  presents  of  cloth,  &c.  after 
which  they  in  general  immediately  returned  home, 
I  observed  that  very  few,  if  any  of  them,  except 
the  chiefs,  had  arms,  which  I  afterwards  learned 
is  the  custom  with  these  people,  whenever  they 
come  upon  a  friendly  visit  or  to  trade,  in  order 
to  shew,  ou  their  approach,  that  their  intentions 
are  pacific.       « 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  19th,  thefthip  was 
discovered  to  be  on  fire.  This  was  owing  to  one 
of  the  savages  having  gone  on  board  with  a  fire- 
brand at  night  for  the  purpose  of  plander,  some 


47 


iparks  from  which  fell  inta  the  hold',  aud  eomma- 
nicating  with  some  combustibles,  sr         weloped 
the  whole  in  flames.     The  natives  regiected  the 
loss  of  the  ship  the  more,  as  a  great  part  of  her 
cargo  still  remained  on  board.      To  my  compa- 
nion and  myself,  it  was  a  most  melancholy  sight, 
for  wifh  her  disappeared  from  our  eyes  every  trace 
of  a  civilized  country  ;  but  the  disappointment  we. 
experienced,  was  still  more  severely  felt,  for  we 
had  calculated  on  having  the  provision  to   our- 
selves, which  wonld  have  furnished  us  with  a  stock 
for  years,  as  whatever  is  cnred  with  salt,  together 
with  most  of  our  other  articles  of  food,  are  never 
eaten  by  these  people.     I   had  luckily  saved  all 
my  tools,  excepting  the  anvil  and  the  bellows, 
which  was  attached  to  the  forge,  and  from  their 
weight  had  not  been  brought  on  shore.     We  had 
also  the  good  fortune,  in  looking  over  what  had  • 
been   taken  from  the  ship,  to  discover  a  box  of 
chocolate,  and  a  case  of  port  wine,  which  as  the 
Indians  were  not  fond  of  it,  proved  a  great  com- 
fort to  us  for  some  time,   and  from  one  of  the 
natives  I  obtained  a  nautical  almanack,    which 
had  belonged  to  the  Captain,   and  which  was  of 
gi*eat  use  to  me  in  determining  tb:  time. 


'^i! 


About  two  days  after,  on  examiniug  their  booty, 
the  savages  found  a  tierce  of  rum,  with  which  they 
were  highly  delighted,  as  they  have  become  very 
fond  of  spirituous  liquors  since  their  intercourse 


!:! 


»    ! 


\' 


r'i  -■ 


M 


4» 

with  thf  ;f  hiies.  This  wai  towards  evening;,  and 
Maquina  having  assembled  ail  the  men  at  bis 
house,  gave  a  feast,  at  which  they  drank  so  freely 
of  the  ram,  that  in  a  short  time,  they  became  so 
extremely  wild  and  frantic,  that  Thompson  and. 
myself,  apprehensive  for  our  safety,  thought  it: 
pradent  to  retire  privately  into  the  woods,  where 
wc  continued  till  past  midnight. 

On  our  return  we  found  the  women  gone,  wh» 
are  always  very  temperate,  driaking  nothing  but 
water,  having  quitted  the  house  and  gone  to  the 
other  huts  to  sleep,  so  terrified  were  they  at  the 
conduct  of  the  men,  who  lay  all  stretched  out  on 
the  floor,  in  a  state  of  complete  intoxication.  How  a 
easy  in  this  situation  would  it  have  been  for  us  to 
have  dispatched  or  made  oureeLyes  masters  of  our 
enemies,  had  there  been  any  ship  near  to  which  we 
could  have  escaped,  hot  as  we  were  situated,  the 
attempt  would  have  been  madness.  The  wish  of 
revenge  was,  however,  less  strongly  impressed 
on  my  mind,  than  what  appeared  to  be  so  evident 
an  interposition  of  divine  Providence  in  our  favour. 
How  little  can  man  penetrate  its  designs,  and  how 
frequently  is  that  intended  as  a  blessing,  which 
he  views  as  a  curse.  The  burning  of  our  ship, 
which  we  had  lamented  so  much,  as  depriving  as 
of  so  many  comforts,  now  appeared  to  os  in  a 
very  (litTerent  light,  for  had  the  savages  got  po8» 
iressiou  of  the  rum,  of  which  there  were  nearly 


•   > 


4» 

twenty  puncheons  on  board,  we  must  inevitably 
bave  fallen  a  sacriGee  to  their  fury  ia  soine  of- 
their  momeats  of  intoxication.  This  cask  fortu- 
nately, and  a  c  .se  of  gin,  was  all  the  spirits  they 
obtained  from  the  ship.  To  prevent  the  recurrence 
of  similar  danger,  I  examined  the  cask,  and  finding.' 
still  ^a  odiilderable  quantity  ramaioing,  1  bored 
a  small  hole  la  the  bottom  with  a  gimhlet,  which 
before  rooraiog  to  ray  gre^t  joy  completely  enp* 
tied  it* 


11 


By  this  time  the  WKmtd  in  m^  Head  bagfaiQ  fo  be 
mueh  bet-ter,  so  tha;!  i  ooukf  enjoy  some  •letp^ 
whiKth  i  had  bfe»  almost  dep«iiredof  by  the  painv* 
and  though  I  was  still  feeble  from  the  loss  of  blood 
and  nvy  soflferiags,  I  found  myself  si»ffi«ieat4y  well 
lo  go  ta  woirk  at  my  tfade,  a  niaking'  fof  the  king^ 
and  his  wms  bracelets  aind  othes  snail  ornameB't» 
•I  copper  or  steel,  aad  in  repairkig  the  anus,  nakr 
wg  use  of  a  large  square  stone  for  the  anvil,  ao4 
beating  my  metal  in  a  common  wood  fire.  Tbie 
was  very  gratifying  to  Maqaioa,  and  his  women 
particuterly,  and  secured  me  their  good  will. 

In  the  mean  time  great  numbers  from  the  other 
tribes  kept  continoally  flocking  to  Nootka,  bring* 
mg  with  them  in  exchange  for  the  ship's  plunder 
such  quantities  of  provision,  that  notwithstanding 
the  little  success  that  Maquina  met  with  in  whaling 
this  season,  and    tlieir  gluttonous  waste,  always 


;i    ii 


.)  ' 


(      '.,■ 


60 


eating  <o  excess  when  they  have  it,  regardless  of 
the  morrow,  seldom  did  the  natives  experience 
any  want  of  food  daring  the  summer.  As  to 
myself  and  companion,  we  fared  as  they  did,  never 
wanting  for  such  prov^ision  as  they  had,  though  we 
were  obliged  to  eat  it  cooked  in  their  manner,  and 
with  train  oil  as  a  sauce,  a  circumsti^e  not  a 
little  unpleasitnt,  boih  from  their  uncleanly  mode 
of  cooking,  and  many  of  the  articles  of  their  food^ 
which  to  an  European  are  very  disgusting;  but^  as 
the  saying  is,  hunger  will  break  through  stone 
wbils,  and  we  found,  at  times,  in  the  blubber  of 
sea  aaimals,  and  the  flesh  of  the  dog-fish,  loath- 
•oue  as  it  general  was,  a  very  acceptable  repast. 


"VK 


But  much  oftener  would  poor  Thompson,  who 
was  no  favourite  witii  them,  have  suffered  firom 
banger^  had  it  not  bien  for  my  furnishing  hi la 
with  provision.  This  I  was  enabled  to  do  'from 
my  work,  Maquina  allowing  me  the  privilego, 
when  not  employed  for  him,  to  work  for  myself  in 
making  bracelets  and  other  ornaments  of  coppery 
fish-hooks,  daggers,  &c.  either  to  sell  to  the  tribes 
who  visited  us,  or  for  our  own  chiefs,  who  bo 
these  occasions  besides  supplying  me  with  as  much 
as  I  wished  to  eat,  and  a  sufficiency  for  Thomp- 
son, almost  always  made  me  a  present  of  an  Eu- 
ropeao  garment,  taken  frcm  the  ship,  or  sortie 
fathoms  of  cloth,  which  were  made  up  by  my  com- 
rade, and  enabled  us  to  go  comfortably  clad  for 


V.  ..    *    -  . 


51 


some  time,  gf  small  bundles  of  penkniTes,  rasors^ 
scissors,  &c.  for  one  of  which  we  could  almost 
always  procure  from  the  natives,    two  or  three 
fresh  salmon,  cod,  or  halibut ;  or  dried  fish,  clams 
and  herring  spawn  from  the  stranger  tribes;  and 
had  we  only  been  permitted  to  cook  them  after  our 
own    way,   as  we    had    pots  and  other  utensils 
belonging  to  the  ship,  we  should  not  have  bad 
much  cause  of  complaint  in  this  respect,  but  so 
tenacious  are  ihese  people  of  /their  customs,  par- 
ticularly  in  the  article  of  food  and  cooking,  that  the 
king  always  obliged  me  to  give  whatever  provision 
I  bought  to  the  women  ta  cook.     And  one  day 
finding  Thompson  and  myself  on  the  shore,  en- 
ployed  in  boiling  dowd  sea-water  into  salt,  on  be* 
ing  told   what  it  was,    he  was   very  much  dis- 
pleased, and  taking  the  little  we  had  procured, 
threw  it  into  the  sea.     In  one  instance  alone,  as  a 
particular  favour,    he  allowed    me  to  boil  soma 
salmon    in   my  own  way,    when    I  invited  him 
and  his  queen  to  eat  with  me;  they  tasted  it,  but 
did  not  like  it,  and  made  their  meal  of  some  of  it 
that  I  had  cookcid  in  their  country  fashion. 

In  May,  the  weather  became  uncommonly  mild 
and  pleasant,  and  so  forward  was  vegetation,  that. 
I  picked  plenty  of  strawberries  by  the  middle  of 
the  month.  Of  this  fruit  there  are  great  quantities 
on  this  coast,  and  I  found  them  a  most  delicious 
treat. 


\ , 


i, 


;  i 


I!; 


•:i 


•»' 


' 


52 


li 


lily  health  now  h«d  beeoroe    ahnost  re-esta^'^ 

^li»h«d,  my  wound  l^eiirg  so  far  healed,  that  it  gave 

me  no  farther  trouble.     I  had  oever  failed  to  wash 

it  regularly  once  a  day  in  sea  waler,  ttDd  to  drees  it 

with  a  fresh   leaf  of  tobacco,    whith  I  obtained 

<fironi  the  natives,  who  had  laWa  it  from  the  ship, 

bat  made  no  use  of  it.     This  was  all  the  dressing  )l 

gave  it,  except  applying  to  it  two  or  three  times, 

^  little  loaf  sagar,  which  Ma^iua  gave   me,  in 

'HirdertoTemove  some  proud  flesh,  which  prevcaled 

it  from  dosing. 


W 


m 


m 


Pi, 


My  vttte«  would  doubtless  have  been  much  sooner 
effected  had  1  liave  been  in  a  civilized  country, 
where  1  could  have  had  it  dressed  by  a  sa^eon 

'^«nd  7prs|)erly  attended  to.  But  alas!  I  had  an 9 
igood^maritan,  wilh  oil<and  wioe,  to  bind^p  niy 
wounds,  and  lortanate  might  I  even  esteem  myself 

[*kat:<I  Mas  permitted  to  dress  it  myself^  for  the 

*i%iiw^M  4hat  I  could  expect  from  the  natives,  was 
compassion  for  my  misforti;nes,  which  I  indeed 

<  esDperiettced  from  the  wcmen,  particularly  the 
queen,  4»r favourite  wife  of  Maquina,  themetheriof 
Sat'Sat-sok-sis,  who  used  frequently  to  point  to  my 

!ikead,  andtnantfest  much  kindness  and  solicitude  for 
ine. !  I  mast  do  Maquioa  the  jnstice  to  acknowledge, 
tiiat  he  aiways  appeared  dfsiroiis  4>f  sparing  me 

^lany  labour  which  be  believed  >might  be  hurtful  to 

J, me,  frequently  enquiring  in  an  <a£feetionate  man- 
ner, if  my  head  pained   me.     As  for  the  otiverp< 


53 


some  of  the  chiefs  excepted,  they  cared  little  what 
became  of  me,  and  probably  would  have  beea  gra- 
tified with  my  death*     .  .,. 

-  IV]  y  health  beitig  at  length  re-established  and 
iTiy  wound  healed,  Thonipson  became  very  impor- 
tunate for  me  to  begin  my  journal,  and  as  I  had  no 
ink,  proposed  to  cut  his  finger  to  supply  me  with 
blood  for  the  purpose  whenever  1  should  want  it. 
On  the  first  of  June,  I  accordingly  commenced  a 
regular  diary,  but  had  no  occasion  to  make  use  of 
the  expedient  suggested  by  my  comrade,  having 
found  a  much  better  substitute  in  the  expreseied 
juiceof  a  certain  plant,  which  furnished  me  with  a 
bright  green  colour,  and  after  making  a  number  of 
trials,  I  at  length  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  very  tole- 
rable ink,  by  boiling  the  juice  of  the  black-berry 
with  a  mixture  of  finely  powdered  charcoal  and 
filtering'it  through  a  cloth.  This  I  afterwards  preser- 
ved in  bottles,  and  found  it  answer  very  well,  so 
true  is  it  that  "necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention.'^ 
As  for  quills  I  found  no  difficulty  in  procnriug  them, 
whenever  I  wanted,  from  the  crows  and  ravens 
with  which  the  beach  was  almost  always  covered, 
attracted  by  vhe  offal  of  whales,  seals,  &c.  and 
which  were  so  tame  that  I  could  easily  kill  them 
wiih  stones,  while  a  large  clam  shell  furnished  me 
with  an  ink  stand.  -  .     -^    ^- 

'iThe   extreme   solicitude  of  Thompson    that  I 

W 


',t 


! 
11 


!  i! 


Sll 


i 


64i 


m 


sHonld  be^n  my  joarnal.  might  be'consider^d  as 
8iDgu)ar  Id  a  man,  who  neither  knew  how  to  read 
or  write,  a  circumstance  by  the  way,  very  uncom- 
mon in  an  America,  were  we  less  acquainted  with 
the  force  of  habit,  he  having  been  for  many  years 
.  at  9ea,  and  accustomed  to  consider  the  keeping  of 
a  joarnal  as  a  thing  indispensable.  This  man  was 
born  in  Philadelphia,  and  at  eight  years  old  ran 
away  from  his  friends  and  entered  as  a  cabin  boy  on 
board  a  ship  bound  to  London,  on  his  arrival  there 
finding  himself  in  distress,  he  engaged  as  an  appren- 
tiie  to  the  captain  of  a  Collier,  from  whence  he  was 
impressed  on  board  an  £nglish  man  of  war,  and 
continued  in  the  British  naval  service  about  twenty* 
seven  years,  duri|ig  which  he  was  present  at  the 
engagement  under  Lord  Howe  with  the  French  fleet 
in  June  1794,  and  when  peace  was  made  between 
England  and  France  was  discharged.  He  was  a 
very  strong  and  powerful  man,  an  expert  boxer, 
and  perfectly  fearless  ;  indeed  so  little  was  his 
dread  of  danger,  that  when  irritated  he  was  wholly 
regardless  of  his  life.  Of  this  the  following  will 
furnish  a  suflScJfent  proof  : 


.^■' 


!  One  evening  about  the  middle  of  April,  a«  I  was 
at  the  house  of  one  of  the  chiefs,  where  I  had  been 
employed  on  some  work  for  him,  word  was  brought 
me  that  Maquina  was  going  to  kill  Thompson.  I 
immediately  hurried  home,  where  I  found  the  king 
in  the  act  of  presenting  a  loaded  musket  at  Thomp- 


65 

•  i.'. ....... 

BOD^  who  was  standing  before  him  with  his  breast 
bared  and  calling  on  him  to  fire.  I  instantly  stepped 
up  to  Maquina,  who  was  foaming  with  rage,  and 
addressing  him  in  soothing  words,  begged  him  for 
my  sake  ^not  to  kill  my  father^  and  at  length  suc- 
ceeded in  taking  the  musket  from  him  and  persua- 
ding him  to  tfit  lowo.  '      ' 

On  enquiriDg  into  the  cause  of  his  anger,  1  learn- 
ed that  while  Thompson  was  lighting  the  lamps  in 
the  king^s  room,  Maquina  having  substituted  onr's 
for  their  pine  torches,  some  of  the  boys  began  to 
teaze  him,  running  around  him  and  pulling  him  by 
the  trowsers,  among  the  most  forward  of  whom  was 
the  young  prince.  This  caused  Thompson  to  spill 
the  oil,  which  threw  him  into  such  a  passion,  that 
without  caring  what  he  did,  he  struck  the  prince  so 
violent  a  blow  in  his  face  with  his  fist  as  to  knock 
him  down.  The  sensation  excited  among  the  sava- 
^ges  by  an  act,  which  was  considered  as  the  highest 
indignity,  and  a  profanation  of  the  sacred  person  of 
majesty,  may  he  easily  conceived.  The  king  was 
immediately  acquainted  with  it,  who,  on  coming  in 
and  seeing  his  son^s  face  covered  with  blood,  seized 
a  musket  and  began  to  load  it,  determined  io  take 
instant  revenge  on  the  audacious  offender,  and  had 
I  arrived  a  few  moments  later  than  I  did,  my 
companion  would  certainly  have  paid  with  his 
life  for  his  rash  and  violent  conduct.  I  found 
the  atmost  difficulty  in  pacifying  Maquina,  who 

F  3 


,  .i!.;.'! 


;  i  i^ 


*•- 


^  ^  » 


S6  ■  :.'■.. 

for  a  long  time  after  could  oot  forgive  Thompson, 

J 

but   would  repeatedly    say,    ^'  Joho,    t/ou  die — 
Thompson  kill."  ^ 

Bat  to  appease  the  king  was  not  all  that  was 
necessary.  In  consequence  of  the  insult  offered  to 
their  prince,  the  whole  tribe  held  a  council,  in 
which  it  was  unanimously  resolved  that  Thompson 
should  be  put  to  death  in  the  most  cruel  manner. 
I  however  interceded  so  strenuously  with  Maqoina, 
for  his  life,  telling  him  that  if  my  father  was  killed, 
I  was  determined  not  to  survive  him,  that  he  refused 
to  deliver  him  up  tQ  the  vengeance  of  his  people^ 
saying,  that  for  John's  sake  they  must  consent  to 
let  him  live.  The  prince,  who,  after  1  had  suc- 
ceeded in  calming  his  father,  gave  me  an  account 
of  what  had  happened,  told  me  that  it  was  wholly 
out  of  regard  to  me,  as  Thompson  was  my  father, 
that  his  life  had  been  spared,  for  that  if  any  one  of 
the  tribe  should  dare  to  lift  a  hand  against  him  ia 
anger,  he  would  most  certainly  be  put  to  death. 

Yet  even  this  narrow  escape  produced  not  much 
effect  on  Thompson,  or  induced  him  to  restrain  the 
violence  of  his  temper.  For  not  many  weeks  after, 
he  was  guilty  of  a  similar  indiscretion,  in  striking 
the  eldest  son  of  a  chief,  who  was  about  eighteen 
years  old,  and  according  to  their  custom  was  consi- 
dered as  a  Tyee,  or  chief  himself,  in  consequence 
of  his  bf^ving  provoked  him  by  calling  him  a  wb.ito 


slave.    T*i 
village,  ai 
death,  but 
Ifequently 
deuce  of 
temper  bel 
our  lives 
nothing  to 
this  point 
he  it\i  for 
in  m^nifei 
he  declari 
aad  that  1 
ged  to  liv 
he  had  a 
destroy  t 
Bailor  ilk 
Spaniard 
than  deal 
despicab 

Asfo 
retarnin 
10  wonc 
savages 

first  of 
toward 

in  my 
ing,  ti 
4iad  t 


S7 

slave.     This  affair  caused  great  commotion  in  tfie 
village,  and  the  tribe  was  very  clamorous  for  his 
death,  bat  Maq^ina  woald  uot  consent.     I  used 
frequently  to  remonstrate  with  him  on  the  impru- 
dence of  his   conduct  and  beg  him  to  govern  his 
temper  better,  telling  him  that  it  was  odr  duty  since 
our  lives  were  in  the  power  of  these  savages,  to  do 
nothing  to  exasperate  them.    But  all  I  could  any  on 
this  point  availed  little,  for  so  bitter  was  the  hate 
he  fblt  for  them,  which  he  was  no  way  backward 
in  m':^nifestittg  both  by  his  looks  and  actions,  that 
he  declared  he  never  would  submit  to  their  insults, 
and  that  he  had  much  rather  be  killed  than  be  obli- 
ged to  live  among  them,  adding  that  he  only  wished 
he  had  a  good  vessel  and  some  guns,  and  he  would 
destroy  the  whole  of  the  cursed  race ;  for  to  a  brave 
sailor  like  him,  who   had  fought  ihe  French  and 
Spaniards  with  glory,  it  was  a  punishment  worse 
than  death  to  be  a  slave  to  such  a  poor,  ignorant, 
despicable  set  of  beings. 

.■f.  ''        '.       .-'  •  .    ' 

As  for  myself  I  thought  very  differently.  ATt2»* 
returning  thanks  to  that  merciful  Being  who  had  in 
80  wonderful  a  manner  softened  the  hearts  of  the 
savages  in  my  favour,  I  had  determined  from  the 
first  of  my  capture  to  adopt  a  conciHat^ng  conduct 
towards  them,  and  conform  myself,  as  far  as  was 
in  my  power,  to  their  customs  aud  mode  of  think- 
ing, trusting  that  the  same  divine  goodness  that 
4iad  rescued  me  from  death,  uould  not  always 

F  3 


I  > 


* -.■ 


^  •■ 


N 


68 

gtiffer  me  to  languish  in  captivity  amoag  theMe 
heathens.  With  this  view,  I  sought  to  gain  tlieir 
good-will  by  always  endeavouruig  to  assume  a 
cheerful  countenance,  appearing  pleased  with  their 
•ports  and  buiTooo  tricks,  making  liitle  ornamenig 
for  the  wives  and  children  of  their  chiefs,  by  which 
means  I  became  quite  a  favourite  with  them,  and 
fieth-l^poks,  daggers,  <&c.  for  themselves. 


^1 11 


As  a  farther  recommendation  to  their  favour, 
and  what  might  eventually  provs  of  the  utmost 
importance  to  us,  i  resolved  ^o  learn  their  lau- 
gnage.  which  in  the  course  of  a  few  months  resi- 
dence I  so  far  succeeded  in  acquiring^  as  to  be 
able  in  general  to  ma^^c  myself  well  understood. 
I  likewise  tried  to  persuade  Tnompson  to  learn  it, 
as  what  might  prove  necessary  to  him.  But  he 
refused,  saying,  that  he  hated  both  them  and 
their  cursed  liogo,  and  would  have  nothing  to  da 
with  it* 


By  pursuing  this  conciliatory  plan,  so  far  did  I 
gain  the  good-wili  of  the«ie  savages,  particularly 
the  chiefs,  that  I  scarcely  ever  failed  experiencing 
kind  treatment  from  them,  and  was  received  with 
a  smile  of  welcome  at  theii  houses,  where  I  was 
always  sure  of  having  something  given  me  to  eat, 
whenever  they  had  it,  and  many  a  good  meal  have 
I  had  from  them,  whrn  they  themselves  were  short 
of  provisioQK  and  suiS'ering  for  the  want  of  them. 


.  * 


5^ 


And  it  was  a  comtnOi:  practice  with  me,  when  we 
had  nothing  to  eat  at  home,  which  happened  not 
unfrequently  during  my  stay  among  them  to  go 
around  the  village,  and  on  noticing  a  smoke  from 
any  of  the  houses,  which  denoted  (hat  tney  were 
cooking,  enter  iu  without  ceremony.:  and  n^k  tiiem 
for  something,  which  I  was  never  refused.  Kew 
nations,  indeed,  are  there  so  very  rude  and  u  12 reel- 
ing, whom  constant  mild  treatment  and  an  atten- 
tion to  please,  will  not  mollify  and  obtaiu  from 
some  return  of  kind  attention.  This,  the  treatment 
I  received  from  these  people,  ma^  exemplify,  for 
not  numerous,  even  among  thosv?  calling  them- 
selves civilized,  are  there  instances  to  be  found  of 
persons  depriving  themselves  of  food  to  give  it  to  a 
stranger,  whatever  ^na^  be  his  merits^ 


.  \ 


i 


•iii 


I    :' 


'    >l 


t    '; 


It  may  perhaps  be  as  well  ia  this  place  to  give 
a  description  of  Nootka;  some  accounts  of  the 
tribes  who  were  accustomed  to  visit  us ;  and  the 
manners  and  custjms  of  the  people,  as  far  as  I 
hitherto  bad  an  opportunity  of  observing  them, 


■; 


.  i     >.- 


The  village  of  Nootka,  is  situated  in  between 
49  and  50  deg.  N.  lat.  at  the  bottom  of  Friendly 
Cove,  on  the  West  or  North-west  side.  It  con- 
sists of  about  twenty  houses  or  huts,  on  a  small 
hill,  which  rises  with  a  gentle  ascent  from  the 
shore.  Friendly  Cove,  which  affords  good  and 
secure  anchorage  for  ships  close  in  with  the  shore^ 


f' 


«0 


m 


T»  a  small  harbour  of  not  more  than  a  quarter  or 
half  a  mile  in  leng;th,  and  aboat  half  a  mile  or 
three  quarters  broad,  formed  by  the  line  of  coast  on 
the  J'ast,  and  a  long  point  or  head  land,  which 
extendi  as  much  as  three  leagues  into  the  sound, 
in  nearly  a  Westerly  d'.ection.  'I^his,  as  well  as 
I  can  judge  from  what  I  have  seen  of  it,  is  ia 
general  from  one  to  two  miles  in  breadth,  and 
mostly  a  rocky  and  uiiprodurtive  soil,  with  but 
few  trees.  The  Eastern  and  Western  shores  of 
this  harbour,  are  steep  and  in  many  parts  rocky, 
the  trees  growing  quite  to  the  water's  edge,  but  the 
bottom  to  the  North  and  North-west  is  a  fine 
sandy  beach  of  half  a  mile  or  more  in  extent. 


m  i 


V'. 


From  the  village  to  the  North  and  North-east 
extends  a  plain,  the  soil  of  which  is  very  ex^'ellent, 
and  with  proper  cultivation  may  be  made  to  pro- 
duce almost  any  of  our  European  vegetables  ;  this 
is  but  little  more  than  half  a  mile  in  breadth,  and 
is  terminated  by  the  sea-coast,  which  in  this  place\ 
is  lined  with  rouks  and  reefs,  an<i  cannot  be  ap- 
proached by  ships.  The  coast  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Nootka  is  in  orenerai  low,  and  but  little 
broken  into  hills  and  vallies.  Ths  soil  is  good, 
wc'l  covered  with  fine  forests  of  pine,  spruce,  beach  • 
and  other  trees,  and  abounds  with  streams  of  the 
fittest  water,  the  gen(ral  appearance  beimg  the 
»ame  for  many  miles  around.  *      '^      * 


ftl 


The  village  is  situated  on  the  ground  occupie.-! 
by  the  Sfiaoiards,  when  they  kepi  a  garrisoo  here; 
the  foundations   of  the  church   and  tlie  governor's 

'  house  are  yet  visible,  and, a  few  European  plants 
are  still  to  he  found,  which  continue  to  be  self- 
propagated,  such  as  onions,  peas,  and  turnips,  but 
the  two  last  are  quite  small,  particularly  the  tur- 
nips, which  afforded  us  nothing  but  the  tops  for  eat- 
ing. Their  former  village  stood  on  the  same  spot, 
but  the  Spaniards  finding  it  a  commodious  situatioo, 
demolished  the  houses  and  forced  the  inhabitants  to 
retire  five  or  six  miles  into  the  country.  With 
great  sorrow,  as  Maquina  told  me,  did  they  find 
themselves  compelled  to  quit  their  ancient  place  of 
residence,  but  with  equal  joy  did  they  repossess 
themselves  of  it  when  the  Spanish  garrison  was  ex* 

spelled  by  the  English.  j 


•4 


The  houses  as  [  have  observed  are  above  twenty 
in  number,  built  nearly  in  a  line.  These  are  of 
different  sizes  according  to  the  rank  or  quality  of 
the  Ti/ee,  or  chief,  who  lives  in  them,  each  hav- 
ing one,  of  which  he  is  considered  as  tb'  tnrd. 
They  vary  not  much  in  width  being  Uou^ily  from 
thirty-six  to  forty  feet  wide  but  are  of  very  different 
lengths,  that  of  the  king  which  is  much  the  longest 
being  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  while  the 
smallest  which  contain  only  two  families  do  not  exr 
ceed  forty  feet  in  length,  the  house  of  the  king  is 
bUo  distinguished  from,  the  others  by  being  higher* 


62 

'  ■■        .  ,  ■--.■»■.     ^ 

Their  method   of  building,  is  aa  follows  :  they 
erect  iu  the  groand  two  very  lar^e  posts  at  such  a 
distance  apart  as  is  intended  fur  the   length  of  the 
hoHie.     On  these,  which  are  of  equal   height,  aod 
hoUowed  out  at  the  upper  end,  they  lay  a  large  spar 
Cor  the  ridgepcie  of  the  building,  or  if  the  length  of 
the  house  requires  it,  two  or  more,  supporting  their 
ends  by  similar  upright  posts;  these  spars  are  some- 
times of  an  almost   incredible  size,  having  myself 
measuied  one  in  Maquina's  bouse  which  I  found  to 
be  one  hundred  feet  long  and  eight  feet  four  inches 
in  circumference.      At   equal  distances  from  these 
two  posts,  two  others  are  placed  on  each  side,  to 
form  the  width  of  the  building ;    these   are  rather 
shorter  than  the  ^.rst,  and  on  them  are  laid  in  like 
manner  spars,  but  of  a  smaller  size,  having  the 
upper  part  hewed  flat,  with  a  narrow  ridge  on  the- 
outer  side  to  support  the  ends  of  the  planks. 


i 


:., 


I    '-'ll,' 


J 


^ 


The  roof  is  formed  of  pine  planks  with  a  broad 
feather  edge,  so  as  to  lap  well  over  each  other, 
which  are  laid  lengthwise  from  the  ridge-pole  in  the 
centre,  to  the  beams  at  the  sides^^  after  which  the 
top  is  covered  with  planks  of  eight  feet  broad, 
which  form  a  kind  of  coving  projecting  so  far  over 
the  ends  of  the  planks,  that  form  the  roof,  as  com- 
pletely to  exclude  the  rain.  On  these  they  lay 
large  stones  to  prevent  their  being  displaced  by  the 
wind.  The  ends  of  tje  planks  are  not  secured  to 
the  beams  on  which  they  are  laid  by  any  fastening, 


63 

fo  that  in  a  high  storm  I  have  often  known  all  t1»e 
men  obliged  to  turn  out  an«l  go  upon  the  roof  to  pre- 
vent them   from    being    hlown  ofT^  carrying  large 
stones  anil  pieces  of  rock  with  them  to  secare  the 
boards,  always  stripping  themselves  naked  on  these 
occasions   whatever  mny  he   the  severity   of   the 
weather,  to  prevent  their  garments  from  being  wet 
and  maddied,  as  these  storms  are  almost  always 
accompanied  with  heavy  rains.     The  sides  of  their 
houses  are  much  more  open  and  exposed  to  the  wea- 
ther, this  proceeds  from  their  not  being  so  easily 
made  close  as  the  rouf,   being  built  with  planks  of 
about  ten  feet  long  and  four  or  live  wide,  which 
they  place  between  stancheons  or  small  posts  of  the 
height  of  the  roof,  of  these  there  are  four  to  each 
range  of  boards,  two  at  each  end  and  so  near  each 
other  as  to  leave  space  enough   for  admitting  a 
plank.     The  planks  or  boards  which  they  make  use 
of  for  building  their   houses,  and   for  other  uses, 
they  procure  of  different  lesgths  as  occasion  re- 
quires,  by  splitting  them  out,  with   hard  wooden 
wedges  from  pine  logs,  and  afterwards  dubbing  them 
down  with  their  chisels,  with    much    patience,  to 
the     thickness    wanted,      rendering     them    quite 
smooth.  :      *  ^ 

There  is  but  one  entrance ;  this  is  placed  usually 
at  the  end,  though  sometimes  in  the  middle  as  v^as 
that  -of  Maquina's.  Through  the  middle  of  the 
building  from  one  end  to  the  other,  runs  a  passage 


'*ii'2l?l  ' 


64 


B 


!i' 


* 


i 


of  about  eight  or  nioe  feet  broad,  on  each  side  of 
which,  the  several   families  that  occupy  it,    live, 
each  having  its  particular  fire  place,  but  vvithr  utany 
kind  of  wall  or  separation  to  mark  th^ii   rpspoctive 
limits;  the  chief  haviog  his  apartment  at  the  upje^r 
end,  and  the  next  in  rank  opposite   on   the  oiher 
side.     They  have  no  other   floor  than  the  ground  ; 
the  fire  place  or  hearth  con«i8ts    of  a   number  of 
stones  loosely  put   together,  but  they  are  wholly 
without  a  chimney,  nor  is  there  any  opening  left  in 
the  roof,  but  whenever  a   fire  is  made,  the  plank 
immediately  over  it  is  thrust  aside,  by  means  of  a 
pole,   io  give  vent  io  the  smoke.     The  height  of 
the  houses  in  general,  from  the  ground  to  the  cen-'* 
ter  of  the  roof  does  not  exceed  ten   feet,  that  of 
Maquina^s  vvaa  not  far  from   fourteen ;    the  spar 
forming  the  ridfi:e  pole  of  the  latter  was  painted  in 
red  and  black  circles  aliernalely,  by  way  of  orna» 
ment,  and  the  large   posts   that  supported  it  had ' 
their  tops  curiously  wrought  or  carved,  so  as  to  re-' 
present  Mpian  heads  of  a  monstrous  size,  whichi' 
y^fSI^':jM^^^&d  in   their  manner.     These  were  not, 
howeVef,  considered  as  objects  of   adoration,  but 
merely  as  ornaments.  r<rH.rii0f 

The  furniture  of  these  people  is  very  simple, 
and  consists  only  of  boxee,  in  which  they  put 
their  clothes,  furs,  and  such  things  as  they  hold 
most  valuable;  tubs  for  keeping  their  provisions  of 
spawn  and  blubber  in;  trays  from  which  they  eat;  ' 


baskets  for  their  dried  fish  and  other  pnrposeg,  and 
bags  made  of  bark  matting,  of  which  they  also 
make  thehr  beds,  spreading  a  piece  of  it  upon  the 
ground  when  they  lie  down,  and  using  no  other 
bed  covering  than  their  garments.  The  boxes  are 
of  pine,  with  a  top  that  shuts  over,  and  instead  of 
nails  or  pegs,  are  fastened  with  flexible  twigs; 
they  are  extremely  smooth  and  high  polished,  and 
sometimes  ornamented  with  rows  of  very  small 
white  shells.  The  tubs  are  of  a  square  form,  se- 
cured in  the  like  manner,  and  of  various  sizes, 
gome  being  extremely  large,  having  seen  them 
that  were  six  feet  long  by  four  broad  and  five  deep. 
The  trays  are  hollowed  out  with  their  chisels  from 
a  solid  block  of  wood,  and  the  baskets  and  mats 

are  made  from  the  bark  of  trees. 

t  -  ^    .  • 

From  bark  they  likewise  make  the  cloth  for  their 
garments,  iu  the  following  manner: — Ar quantity 
of  this  bark  is  taken  and  put  into  fresh  water, 
where  it  is  kept  for  a  fortnight,  to  give  it  time  to 
completely  soften ;  it  is  then  taken  out  and  beaten 
npon  a  plank,  with  an  instrument  made  of  bone, 
or  some  very  hard  wood,  having  grooves  or  hol- 
lows on  one  side  of  it,  care  being  taken  to  keep 
the  mass  constantly  moistened  with  water,  in 
order  to  separate,  with  more  ease,  the  hard  and 
woody  from  the  soft  and  fibrous  parts,  which, 
when  completed,  they  parcel  out  info  skeins,  like 
thread.    These  they  lay  in  the  air  to  bleach,  and 

Q 


I 


! 


'i  ; 

■;'"■ 

1     ! 


M 


;i 


66 

afterwards  dye  them  black  or  red,  as  suits  ttieir 
fancies,  their  natural  colour  being  a  pale  yellow. 
Id  order  to  form  the  c^oth,  the  women  by  whom 
the  whole  of  this  process  is  performed,  take  a  cer« 
tain  number  of  these  skeins,  and  twist  them  to* 
gether,  by  rolling  them  with  iheir  hands  upon  their 
knees  into  hard  rolls,  which  are  afterwards  con- 
nected by  means  of  a  strong  thread,  made  for  the 
purpose. 

Their  dress  usually  consists  of  but  a  single  gar- 
ment, which  is  a  loose  cloak  or  mantle  (called 
Kuisack)  in  one  piece,  reaching  nearly  to  the  feet. 
This  is  tied  loosely  over  the  right  or  left  shoulder, 
so  as  to  leave  the  arms  at  full  liberty. 


V* 


Those  of  the  common  people  are  painted  red 
with  ocbre,  the  better  to  keep  out  the  rain,  but  the 
chiefs  wear  them  of  their  native  colour,  which  is  a 
*pale  yellow,  ornamenting  them  with  borders  of  the 
sea  otter  skin,  a  kind  of  grey  cloth  uade  of  the 
hair  of  some  animal  which  they  procure  from  the 
tribes  to  the  South,  or  their  own  cloth  wrought  or 
paidted  with  various  figures  in  red  or  black,  repre- 
senting men's  heads,  the  sun  and  moon,  fish  and 
animals,  which  are  frequently  executed  with  much 
skill.  They  have  also  a  girdle  of  the  same  kind, 
for  securing  this  mantle,  or  Kuisack^  around  them, 
which  is  in  general  still  more  highly  ornamented, 
■  and  serves  them  to  wear  their  daggers  and  knives 


■    ■  Vi 


67 


in.  In  winter,  however,  they  sometimes  make  ase 
of  an  additional  garment,  which  is  a  kind  of  hood, 
with  a  hole  in  it  for  the  purpose  of  admitting  the 
head,  and  falls  over  the  breast  and  back,  ap  low 
as  the  shoulders ;  this  is  bordered  both  at  top  and 
bottom  with  fur^  and  is  never  worn,  except  when 
they  go  out* 

The  garments  of  the  women  vary  not  essentially 
from  those  of  the  men,  the  mantle  having  holes  in 
it  for  the  purpose  of  admitting  the  arms,  and  being 
tied  close  under  the  chin,  instead  of  ov«r  the 
shoulder.  The  chiefs  have  also  mantles  of  the 
sea  otter  skin^  but  these  are  only  put  op  upon 
extraordtaary  occasions;  and  one  that  is made  from 

;  the  skin  of  a  certain  large  animal,  which  is  brought 
from  the  South  by  the  Wickanninish  and  Kla-iz« 
carts.  This  they  prepare  by  dressing  it  in  warm 
water,  scraping  off  the  hair  and  what  flesh  adbeces 

i  to  it  carefully  with  sharp  nuscle  shells,  and  spreaxl- 
ipg  it  out  in  the  suu  to  dry,  on  a  wooden  frame, 
so  as  to  preserve  the  shape.  When  dressed  in  this 
manner,  it  becomes  perfectly  white,  and  as  pliable 
as  the  best  deer's  leather,  but  almost  as  thick  ag&ia. 
They  then  paint  it  in  different  figures,  with  such 
paints  as  they  usually  employ  in  decorating  their 
persons:  these  figures  mostly  represent  human 
heads,  canoes  emplcyed  in  catching  whales,  &c« 

1      Tbifskin  is  called  Metamelth,  and  is  probably 


V 


:f 


'  -i'  i  ' 

■  t  i 


l!' 


I 


it'-- 


•  I  • 


68 

got  from  an  animal  of  the  mouBe  kind,  it  is  highly 
prized  by  these  people,  is. their  great  war  dress,  and 
only  worn  when  they  wish  to  make  the  best  possible 
display  of  themselves^  Strips  or  bands  of  it,  paint- 
ed as  above,  are  also  sometimes  nsed  by  them  for 
girdles  or  the  bordering  of  their  cloaks,  and  also  for 
bracelets  and  ancle  ornaments  by  some  of  the  infe- 
rior class.'' 


•1  ? !. 


Uv 


On  their  heads  when  they  go  oat  upon  any  ex^ 
cnrsion  particularly  whaling  or  fishing,  they  wear 
a  kind  of  cap  or  bonnet  in  form  not  unlike  a  large 
•ngar  loaf  with  the  top  cut  off.  This  is  made  of  the 
same  materials  with  their  cloth,  but  is  in  general  of 
a  closer  texture  and  by  way  of  tassel  has  a  long  strip 
of  the  skin  of  the  Metamelth  attached  to  it,  covered 
with  rows  of  small  white  shells  or  beads.  Those 
worn  by  the  common  people  are  painted  entirely  red, 
the  chiefs  having  theirs  of  differant  colours.  The 
cne  worn  by  the  king  and  which  serves  t>  designate 
iiim  from  all  the  others,  is  longer  and  broader  at  the 
bottom  ;  the  top,  instead  of  being  flat,  having  upon 
it  an  ornament  in  the  figure  of  a  small  'irn.  It  is 
also  of  a  much  finer  texture  than  the  others,  and 
plaited  or  wrought  in  bl^ck  and  white  stripes  uith 
the  represeutation  in  front  of  a  canoe  in  pursuit  of  a 
whale,  with  the  harpooner  standing  in  the  prow  pre- 
pared to  strike.     This  bonnet  is  called  Seeya-poks* 


Their  mode  of  living  is  very  simple — their  food 


69 

eoosifltia^'klmoBi  wholly  of  fish,  or  fish  spawD  fresh 
or  dried,  the  blubber  of  the  whale,  seal,  or  sea^ 
cow,  mpscles,  clams,  and  (icrrics  of  various  kiods ; 
all  of  which  are  eaten  with  a  profusion  of  train  oil 
for  saoce^tiot  excepting  even  the  most  d^ilicate  fruit 
as  strawberries  and  raspberries.  With  so  little  va« 
riety  in  their  food,  no  great  secret  can  be  expected 
in  their  cookery.  Of  this,  indeed,  they  may  be  said 
to  know  but  two  methods  viz.  by  boiling  and 
steaming,  and  even  the  latter  is  not  very  frequent* 
ly  practised  by  them.  Their  mode  of  boiling  is  as 
follows:  Into  one  of  their  tubs,  they  pour  water 
sufficient  to  cook  the  quantity  of  prr^vision  wanted. 
A  number  of  heated  atones  are  then  put  in  to  make  it 
boily  when  the  salmon  or  other  fish  are  put  in  with- 
out any  other  preparation  than  sometimes  cutting  oflf 
the  beads,  tails  and  fin»,  the  l)oiling  in  the  mean 
time  been  kept  up  by  the  application  of  the  hot 
stones,  after  which  it  is  left  to  cook  until  the  whole 
is  nearly  reduced  to  on^  mass.  It  is  then  taken  out 
and  distributed  in  the  trays.  *In  a  similar  manner 
they  cook  their  blubber  and  spawn,  smoked  >3r  dried 
fish,  and  in  fine,  almost  every  thing  they  eat,  no* 
thing  going  down  with  them  like  broth. 

When  they  cook  their  fish  by  tfeam,  which  are 

usually  the  heads,  tails,  and  fins  of  the  salmon, 

cod  £Rk)  b'alibut,  a  large  fire  is  kindled,  upon  which 

,  they  place  a  bed  of  stones,  whichf  when  the  wood 

.  ,.c.    O  3  .      ,i 


1    !; 


'1  tf 


I    ! 

i' 


M 


■»i 


I' 


I  i  "■ 


I 

■ 


70 


m 

'fl^Kifll 

'HMnf|(9t 

W^  r 

S|jl 

sWh-  t 

( 

p-: 

'i' 

■;>! 

*M^*'  » 

Vn^«.i 

^^;l 

KkHhI 

JJ|rT<'i 

T^« 

■ 

; 

I 


^'if 


a, 


is  bnrnt  down,  becomes  perfectly  heafed#    Layers  . 
cf  green  leaves  or  pine  boughs,  are  then  placed 
upon  the  stones,  and  the  fish,  clams,  &e.  being 
laid  npon  them,  water  is  poured  over  them,  and 
the  ^whole  closely  covered  with  mats,  to  keep  in 
the  steam.    This  is  much  the  best  mode  of  cooking, 
and  clanis  and  muscles  done  in  this  manner,  are 
really  excellent.    These,  as  I  have  said,  may  be 
considered  as  their  only  kinds  of  cookery ;  though 
I  bave^  in  a  very  few  instances,  L'^own  them  dress 
the  roe  or  spawn  of  the  salmon  and  the  herring, 
when  first  taken,  in  a  different  manner;  this  was 
by  roasting  them,  the  former  being  supported  be- 
tween   two  split  pieces  of  pine,  and   the  other 
having  a  sharp  stick  run  through  it,  with  one  end 
fixed  iii  the  ground ;    sprats  are  also  roasted  by 
tbem  in  this  way,  a  nsmber  being  spitted  upon  one 
•tick;  and  this  kind  of  food,  with  a  little  salt, 
would  be  found  no  contemptible  eating  even  to  an 
European. 

At  their  meals  they  seat  themselves  upon  the 
ground,  with  their  feet  curled  up  under  tbem, 
around  their  trays,  which  are  generally  about  three 
feet  long  by  one  broad,  and  from  six  to  eight  inches 
deep.  In  eating  they  make  use  of  nothing  but 
tbeir  fingers,  except^for  the  soup  or  oil,  which  they 
lade  out  with  clam  shells.  Around  one  of  these 
trays,  from  four  to  six  persons  will  seat  themselves, 
Constantly  dipping  in  their  fingers  or  clam  shells^ 


11 


71 

one  after  the  other.  The  king  and  chiefs  alone 
have  separate  (rays,  from  which  no  one  is  permitted 
to  eat  with  them,  except  the  queen,  or  principal 

'Wife  of  the  chief,  and  whenever  the  king  or  one  of 
the  chiefs  wishes  to  distinguish  any  of  his  people 
•with  a  special  mark  of  favour  on  these  occasions, 

i  he  calls  him  a^d  gives  him  some  of  the  choice  bits 
from  his  tray.  The  slaves  eat  at  the  same  time, 
and  of  the  same  provisions,  fareing  in  this  respect 

<  as  weil  as  their  masters,  being  seated  with  the  fa- 
mily, and  only  feeding  from  separate  trays. 


Whenever  a  feast  is  given  by  the  king  or  any  of 
the  chiefs,  there  is  a  person  who  acts  as  a  master 
of  ceremonies,  and  whose  business  it  is  to  receive 
the  gaests  as  they  enter  the  house,  and  poin<:  out 
to  them  their  respective  seats,  which  s  regulated 
with  great  punctiliousness  as  regards  rank;  the 
king  occupying  the  highest  or  the  seat  of  honour, 
his  son  or  brother  sitting  next  him,  and  so  on  with 
the  chiefs  according  to  their  quality ;  the  private 
persons  belonging  to  the  same  family  being  always 
placed  together,  to  prevent  any  confusion.  The 
women  are  seldom  invited  to  their  feasts,  and  only 
at  those  times  when  a  general  invitation  is  given  to 
the  village. 


1        !    r         1      ■ 


■^^'  •  I 


I 


'I 


M 


As  whenever  they  cook,  they  always  calculate 
to  have  an  abundance  for  ail  the  guests,  a  profu- 
sion in  this  respect  being  considered  as  the  highest 


...JJi 


72 


i« 


luxury,  much  more  is  usually  set  before  <hem  tiiui 
they'  can  eat.  That  which  is  left  in  ihe  kiiig^s 
tray,  he  sends  to  his  house  for  his  family,  by  one 
of  his  slaves,  as  do  the  chiefs  theirs,  while  those 
who  eat  from  the  same  tray,  and  who  generally 
belong  to  the  same  family,  take  it  home  as  common 
stock,  or  each  one  receives  his  portion,  which  is 
distributed  on  the  spot.  This  custom  appeared 
very  singular  to  my  companion  and  myself,  and 
it  was  a  most     ^kv     d  thing  for  us  at  fint,  to 


have  to  Ibg  hori  ^v;;:^  us,  in  our  bands  or  arms, 
the  blubber  or  fish  t  at  w^'  received  at  these  times, 
but  we  soon  became  reconciled  to  it,  and  were  very 
glad  of  an  opportunity  to  do  it. 


hi' 


h  i   ■ 


m 


I 


HI 


In  point  of  personal  appearance  the  people  of 
Nootka  are  among  tbe  best  looking  of  any  of  the 
tribes  that  I  have  seen.  Tbe  men  are  in  general 
from  about  five  feet  six  to  five  feet  eight  inches  in 
height;  remarkably  strait,  of  a  good  form,  robust, 
and  strong,  with  their  limbs  in  general  well  tunawd 
and  proportioned  rxceptiog  tbe  legs  and  feet,  which 
are  clumsy  and  ill  fonued,  owin^,  no  doubt  to  their 
practice  of  sitting  on  them,  tboogh  I  have  seen  in- 
•taoces  in  which  they  were  very  well  shaped,  thds 
defect  is  more  particularly  apparent  in  the  women, 
who  are  for  the  most -part  of  the  time  within  doors, 
and  constantly  sitting  while  employed  in  their  eook- 
ing  and  other  occujmtions.  The  only  instance  t>( 
deformity  that  I  saw  amongst  them  was  a  man  of 


I 


73 

dwarfish  stature;  he  was  thirty  years  old  and  but 
three  feet  three  ioches  high,  he  had  however  do 
other  defect  than  his  diminutive  size  being  well 
made,  and  as  strong  and  able  to  bear  fatigue  as 
\^hat  they  were  in  general. 

Their  coiLolexion,  when  f  jed  from  the  paint 
a?  d  oi!  with  vhich  their  skina  are  generally  co- 
vered, is  a  Hro^  a,  somewhat  inclining  to  a  copper 
casto  The  shape  of  the  face  is  oval;  the  features 
are  tolerably  regular,  the  lips  being  thin  and  the 
teeth  very  white  and  even;  their  eyes  are  blackr 
but  rather  small,  and  the  nose  pretty  well  formed 
being  neither  flat  nor  very  prominent ;  their  hvu' 
is  black,  long  and  coarse,  but  they  have  no  bearc 
completely  extirpating  it,  as  well  as  the  hair  ■  ^w 
their  bodies.  Maquiaa  being  the  only  exception, 
who  suffered  his  beard  to  grow  on  his  upper  lip,  in 
the  manner  of  mustachios,  which  was  considered 
as  a  mark  of  dignity. 

As  to  the  women,  they  are  much  whiter,  many 
of  them  not  being  darker  than  those  in  some  of  the 
Southern  parts  of  Europe.  I'hcy  are  in  general 
very  well  looking,  and  some  quite  handsome. 
Maquina^s  favourite  wife  in  particular,  who  was  a 
Wickinninish  princess,  would  be  con.^idered  as  a 
beautiful  woman  in  any  country.  She  was  un- 
commonly well  formed,  tall,  and  of  a  majestic 


^  at 


,:tj; 


ti 

ill! 


P^ 


w 


■ 


a 


74 

appearao/ce ;  her  skia  remarkably  fair  for  one  of 
these  people,  with  considerable  colour,  her  features 
handsome,  and  hef  eyes  black,  soft,  and  lan- 
guishing; her  hair  was  very  long,  thick,  and 
black,  as  is  that  of  the  females  iO  general,  which 
is  much  softer  than  that  of  the  men  s  in  this  they 
take  much  pride,  frequently  oiling  and  plaiting 
it  carefully  into  two  broad  plaits,  tying  the  ends 
with  a  strip  of  the  cloth  of  the  country,  and  letting 
it  hang  down  before  on  each  side  of  the  face. 

to 

The  women  keep  their  garments  much  neater 
and  cleaner  than  the  men,  and  are  extremely  mo- 
dest in  their  deportment  and  dress ;  their  mantle, 
or  Kotsack,  which  is  longer  than  that  of  the  men, 
reaching  quite  to  their  feet,  and  completely  en- 
veloping them,  being  tied  close  under  the  dbin, 
and  bonud  with  a  girdle  of  the  same  cloth,  or  of  sea 
otter  skin  around  their  waists;  it  has  also  loose 
sleeves  which  reach  to  the  elbows.  Though  ibnd 
of  ornamenting  their  persons,  they  are  by  no  means 
so  partial  to  paint  as  the  men,  merely  colouring 
their  eye4)row8  black,  and  drawing  a  bright  red 
•tripe  from  each  corner  of  the  mouth  towards  the 
ear.  Their  ornaments  consist  chiefly  of  ear-rings, 
necklaces,  bracelets,  rings  for  the  fingers  and  ancles, 
and  small  nose  jewels,  (the  latter  are,  however, 
wholly  confined  to  the  wives  of  the  king  or  chiefii,) 
these  are  principally  made  out  of  copper  or  brass, 


lr- 


76 


highly  polished,  and  of  varioas  forms  and  sizes; 
the  nose  jewel  is  usaally  a  small  white  shell  or 
bead  laspended  to  a  thread. 


\ 


The   wives  of   the  common   people  fret^oentlyt 
i^ear  for  bracelets  and  aucle  rings,  strips  of  the 
country  cloth  or  skin  of  the  Metameltb  painted  in 
fignres,  and  those  of  the  king  or  principal  chiefs, 
bracelets  and  necklaces,  consisting  of  a  number  of  ^ 
strings  of  Ife-uaw^  an  article  much  prized  by  them, 
and  which  makes  a  very  handsome  appearance. 
This  Ife^waw^  as  they  term  it,  is  a  kind  of  shell 
of  a  dazzling  whiteness,  and  as  smooth  as  ivory,  it 
is  of  a  cylindrical  form,  in  a  slight  degree  curved, 
about  the  size  of  a  goose  quill,  hollow,  three  in*  ' 
ches  in  length,  and  gradually  tapering  to  a  point, 
which  is  broken  off  by  the  natives,  as  it  is  taken 
from  the  water;  this  they  afterwards  string  upon 
threads  of  bark,  an,d  sell  it  by  the  fathom;  it  forma 
a  kind  of  circulating  medium  among  these  nations, 
five  fathoms  beiog  considered  as  the  price  of  a  slave 
their  roost  valuable  species  of  property.    It  is  prin^ 
cipally  obtained  from  the  Aitizzarts,  a  people  living 
about  thirty  or  forty  miles  to  the  Northward,  who. 
collect  it  from  the  reefs  and  sunken  rocks  with  ' 
which  their  coast  abounds,  though  it  is  also  brought 
in  considerable  quantity  from  the  Sooth. 


y 


1  HI    a 

•lit' 


I        ■■' 


•V-  .    I 


:  I' 


i    ; 


Their  mode  of  taking  it  has  been  thus  described  ta 
me:— ^To  one  end  of  a  pole  is  fastened  a  piece  of 


■■'ii 


i 


76 


1 

.4 


i.\ 


pkok,  ia  which  a  coDsiderable  o amber  of  pine  pegi 
are  inserted,  made  sharp  at  the  ends;  above  the 
plaok,  in  order  to  sink  it,  a  stone  or  some  weight 
is  tied,  and  the  other  end  of  the  pole  suspended  to  a 
long  rope;  this  is  let  down  perpendicularly  by  the 
Ijc'voaw  fishers  in  those  places  where  that  sab- 
stance  is  found,  which  are  usually  from  fifty  to 
sixty  fathoms  deep.  On  finding  the  bottom,  they 
raise  the  pole  op  a  few  feet,  and  let  it  fall,  this 
they  repeat  a  number  of  times  as  if  sounding,  when 
they  draw  it  up,  and  take  off  the  Jfe-aaw  which  is 
found  adhering  to  the  points.  This  method  of 
procuring  it  is  very  laborious  and  iatiguing,  espe* 
cially  as  they  seldom  take  more  than  two  or  three 
of  these  shells  at  a  time,  and  frequently  none. 


■I 


It' 


i' 

.  ,1 


1 


Ml 


Though  the ''women,  as  I  have  said,  make  but 
little  MBt  of  paint,  the  very  reverse  is  the  case  with 
the  men.  In  decorating  their  heads  and  faces,  they 
place  their  principal  pride,  and  none  of  our  most 
fashionable  beans,  when  preparing  lor  a  grand  ball, 
can  be  more  particular;  for  I  have  koown  Maqui* 
na,  after  having  been  employed  more  than  an  hour 
in  painting  his  face,  rub  the  whole  off,  and  re- 
commence the  operation  anew,  when  it  did  not 
entirely  please  him* 

The  manner  in  which  they  paint  themselves  hi:* 
quently  varies,  according  to  the  occasion,  but  it 
oftener  is  the  mere  dictate  of  whim.    The  most 


77 

usual  melhod  is  to  paint  the  eyeorows  blacl(,  in 
form  of  a  half  mooo,  and  the  face  red  in  small 
squares,  with  the  arms  and  legs  and*  part  of  the 
body  red ;  sometimes  one  half  of  the  face  is  painted 
red  in  squares^  and  the  other  black ;  at  others,  dotted 
with  spots,  of  red  aad  black  instead  of  squares,  with 
a  variety  of  other  devices,  such  as  paiating  one 
half  of  the  face  and  body  red,  aad  the  other  black. 
Rut  a  method  of  painting  which  they  sometimes 
employed,  and  which  they  were  much  more  parti- 
cular in,  was  by  laying  on  the  face  a  quantity  of 
beards  grease  of  about  one  eighth  of  an  inch  thick  ; 
this  they  raised  up  into  ridges  resembling  a  small 
bead  in  joiner^s  work,  with  a  stick  prepared  for  the 
purpose,  and  then  painted  them  red,  which  gave 
the  face  a  very  singular  appearance.  On  extraor- 
dinary occasions,  the  king  and  principal  chiefs  nsed 
to  strew  over  their  face?,  after  painting,  a  fine  black 
shining  powder,  procured  from  some  mineral,  as 
Maquina  told  me  it  wal  got  from  the  rocks.  This 
they  call  pelpelth  and  value  it  highly,  as,  in  their 
opinion,  it  serves  to  set  off  their  looks  to  great' 
advantage,  glittering  especially  in  the  sun,  like 
ailver. — This  article  is  brought  them  in  bags  by 
the  Newchemass^  a  very  savage  nation  who  live  a 
long  way  to  the  Xorth,  from  whom  they  likewise 
receive  a  superior  kind  of  red  paint,  a  species  of 
very  fine  and  rich  ochre,  which  they  hold  in  much 
estimation. 


ll;' 


rr: 


r'- 


;)/ 


t^. 


i: 


78 


NoiwithstandiDg  this  custom  of  painting  them- 
b61vc8,  they  make  it  an  invariable  practice,  both 
in  summer  and  winter,  to  bathe  once  a  day,  and 
sometimes  oftener  ;  but  as  the  paint  is  pnt  on  with 
c'l,  it  is  not  much  discomposed  thereby,  and 
whenever  they  wish  to  wash  it  off,  they  repair  to 
some'  piece  of  fresh  water  and  scour  themielres 
with  sand  or  rushes* 


l''IP  "■■■ 


SIM' 


W 


\ : 


In  dressing  their  heads  on  occasion  of  a  festival 
or  a  visit,  they  are  full  as  particular,  and  almost 
as  long,  as  in  painting.    The  hair,  after  being  well 
oiled,   is  carefully  gathered  upon  the  top  of  the 
head,  and  secured  by  a  piece  of  pine  or  sprnce 
bough,  with  the  green  leaves  upon  it.    After  hav- 
ing it  properly  fixed  in  this  manner,  the  king  and 
principal  chiefs  used  to  strew  all  over  it  the  white 
down  obtained  from  a  species  of  large  brown  eagle, 
which  abounds  on  this  coast,  and  which  they  are 
very  particular  in  arranging  so  as  not  to  have  a 
single  feather  out  of  place,  occasionally  wetting 
the  hair  to  make  it  adhere.    This,  together  with 
the  bough,   which   is  sometimes  of  considerable 
size,  and  stuck  oiver  with  feathers  by  means  of 
torpentijey  gives  them  a  very  lingular  and  gro- 
tesque appearance,    which  they,  however,  think 
very  becoming,   and   the  first  thing  they  do  on 
learning  the  arrival  of  strangers,  is  to  go  and  di 
corate  themselves  in  this  manner. 


HI 


79 


The  men  also  wear  bracelets  of  paioted  leather 
or  copper,  and  large  ear-rings  of  the  latter,  bat 
the  ornaroeot   on  which  they  appear  to  set  the 
most  valae,  is  the  nose-jewel,  if  such  an  appella- 
tion may  be  given  to  the  wooden  stick  which  some 
of  them  employ  for  this  parpose.    The  king  and 
chiefs,  however,    wear  them  of  a  different  form, 
being  either  small  pieces  of  polished  copper  or  brass, 
of  which  I  made  many  for  them,  in  tbe  shape  of 
hearts  and  diamonds,    or  a  twisted  conical  shell 
about  half  an  inch  in  length  of  a  blueish  colour  and 
very  bright,    which  is  brought  from  the  South. 
These  are  supsended  by  a  small  wire  or  string  to  the 
hole,  in  the  gristle  of  the  nose,  which  is  formed  in 
infancy,  by  boreing  it  with  a  pin,  the  hole  being 
aftarwards  enlarged  by  the  repeated   insertion  of 
wooden  pegs  of  an  increased  size,  until  it  becomes 
about  the  diameter  of  a  pipe  stem,    though  some 
have  them  of  a  size  nearly  sufficient  to  admit  the 
little  linger;  -    ^'      '*  •     ■■       » 


j,ii. 


'■   : 


The  common  class  who  cannot  readily  procure 
the  more  expensive  jewels  that  I  have  mentioned, 
substitute  for  them,  usually,  a  smooth  round  stick, 
some  of  which  are  of  an  almost  incredible  length, 
for  I  have  seen  them  projecting  not  less  ihan  eight 
or  nine  inches  beyond  the  face  on  each  side;  this 
is  made  fast,  or  secured  in  its  place  by  little  wedges 
on  each  side  of  it.  These  sprit-saii-yard  fellows, 
as  my  messmate  used  to  call  them,  when  rigged 

H  2 


m 


%: 


80 


•ut  Id  this  manner,  made  quite  a  strange  show,  and 
it  was  his  delight,  whenever  he  saw  one  of  them 
coming  towards  us  with  an  air  of  consequence  pro- 
.portioned  to  the  length  of  his  stick,  to  put  up  his 
hand  suddenly  as  he  was  passing  him,  so  as  to 
strike  the  stick,  in  order,  as  he  said,  to  brace  him 
up  sharp  to  thif  wind ;  this  used  to  make  them 
very  angry,  but  nothing  was  more  remote  from 
Thomp8on'*8  ideas  than  a  wish  to  cultivate  their 
favour. 


The  natives  of  Nootka  appear  to  have  but  little 
inclination  for  the  chace,  though  some  of  them  were 
expert  maiAcsmen,  and  used  sometimes  to  shoot 
ducks  and  geese,  but  the  seal  and  the  sea-otter 
form  the  principal  objects  of  their  hunting»  parti- 
«ulariy  the  latter. 

Of  this  animal,  so  much  noted  for  its  valuable 
skin,  the  followirvg  descrmfion  may  not  be  unin- 
teresting :  The  sea-otter  is  nearly  five  feet  in 
length,  exclusive  of  the  tail,  which  is  about  twelve 
inches,  and  is  very  thick  and  broad  where  it  joins 
the  body^  but  gradually  tapers  to  the  end,  which  is 
tipped  with  white.  The  colour  of  the  rest  is  a  shin- 
ing silky  black,  with  the  exception  of  a  broad  white 
stripe  on  the  top  of  the  head.  Nothing  can  be 
more  beautiful  than  one  of  these  animals  when  seen 
swimming,  especially  when  on  the  look  out  for  any 
object.     At  such  times  it  raises  its  head  quite  above 


81 


the  surface,  and  the  cootrast  between  the  shiDiog 
black  and  the  white,  together  with  its  sharp  ears 
and  a  long  tuft  of  hair  rising  from  the  middle  of  its 
forehead,  which  looks  like  three  small  horns,  ren- 
der it  quite  a  novel  and  attractive  object.  They 
are  m  general  very  tame,  and  will  permit  a  canoe 
or  boat  to  approach  very  near  before  they  dive.  I  ^ 
was  told,  however,  that  they  are  become  much 
more  shy  since  they  have  been  accustomed  to  shoot 
them  with  muskets,    then  when   they  used  only 


■(•■■t:.. 


arrowsk 


.  -'".v^ 


The  skin  is  held  in  great  estimation  hi  China, 
more  especially  that  of  the  tail,  the  fur  of  which  is 
finer  and  closer  set  than  that  on  the  body.  This  i» 
always  cut  off  and  sold  separately  by  the  native's. 
The  value  of  a  skin  is  determined  by  its  size,  that 
being  considered  as  a  prime  skin  which  will  reach, 
in  length,  from  a  man's  chin  to  his  feet.  The  food 
of  the  sea-otter  is  fish,  which  he  is  very  dexterons 
in  taking,  being  an  excellent  swimmer,  with  feet 
webbed  like  those  of  a  goose.  They  appear  to  bfr 
wholly  confined  to  the  sea  coast,  at  least  to  the  salt 
water.  They  have  usually  three  or  four  young  at 
a  time,  but  I  know  not  how  often  they  breed,  nor 
in  what  place  they  deposit  their  young,  though 
I  have  frequently  seen  them  swimming  around  the 
mother,  when  no  larger  than  rats.  The  flesh  is 
eaten  by  the  natives/cooked  in  their  usual  mode,  by 

H  3 


'■'it     I- 

'  ■      I 


i 

J; 


li 


h 


M 


82 


m 


14 


a 


l'\K 


Liii 


boiling,  and  is  far  preferable  to  that  of  the  seal,  of 
M'hich  they  make  much  account. 

But  if  not  great  hunters,  4here  are  few  people 
more  expert  in  Sshing.     Their  lines  are  generally 
made  from  the  sinew  of  the  whale,  and  are  ex- 
tremely strong.     For  the  hook,  they  usually  make 
use  of  a  straight  piece  of  hard  wood,  in  the  lower 
part  of  which  is  inserted  and  well  secured,  with 
thread  or  whale  sinew,  a  bit  of  bone  made  very 
sharp  at  the  point  and  bearded;    but  I  used  to 
make  for  them  hooks  from  iron,  which  they  pre- 
ferred, not  only  as  being  less  liable  to  break,  but 
more  certain  of  securing  the  fish.     Cod,  halibut, 
aad  other  sea  fish  were  not  only  caught  by  them 
with  hooks,  but  even  salmon. 


m 


fi  .  |Si 


f ,:, 


To  take  this  latter  fish,  they  practise  the  follow- 
ing method :  One  person  seats  himself  in  a  small 
canoe,  and  baiting  his  hook  with  a  sprat,  which 
they  are  always  careful  to  procure  as  fresh  as  possi- 
ble, fastens  his  line  to  the  handle  of  the  paddle; 
this,  as  he  plies  it  in  the  water,,  keeps  the  fish  in 
constant  molion,  so  as  to  give  it  the  appearance  of 
life,  which  the  salmon  seeing,  leaps  at  it,  and  is 
instantly  hooked,  and  by  a  sudden  and  dexterous 
motion  of  the  paddle,  drawn  on  board.  I  have 
lino:vn  some  of  the  natives  take  no  less  than  eight 
or  !cn  aalmon  of  a  morning,  in  this  manner,  and 


:  83 

have  seen  from  twenty  to  thirty  canoes  at  a  time  ia 
Friendly  Cove  thus  employed. 

They  are  likewise  little  less  skilful  in  taking  the 
whale.     This  they  kill  with  a  kind  of  javelin  or 
harpoon,  thus  constructed  and   fitted — The   barbs 
are  formed  of  bone,  which  are  sharpened  on  the 
outer  side,  and  hollowed  within,  for  the  purpose 
of  forming  a  socket  for  ttie  staff;  these  are  then 
secured  firmly  together  with  a  whale  sioew,  the 
point  being  fitted  so  as  to  receive  a  piece  of  muscle 
shell,  which  is  ground  to  a  very  sharp  edge,  and 
secured  in  its  place  by  means  of  turpentine.     To 
,  this  head  or  prong  ir  fastened  a  strong  line  of  whale 
Binew^   about  Mne  feet  in  length,  to  the  end   of 
which  is  tied  a  bark  rope  from  fiity  to  sixty  fathoms 
long,  having  from  twenty  to  thirty  seal-skin  floats 
or  buoys,  attached  'to  it  at  certain  intervals,  in 
order  to  check  the  motion  of  the  whale,  and  ob- 
struct his  diving.     In  the  socket  of  the  Harpoon  a 
staff  or  pole  of  about  ten  feet  long,  gradually  tape^N 
ing  from  the  middle  to  each  end,  is  placed;  this 
the  harpooner  holds  in  his  hand,  in  order  to  s^     « 
the  whale,  and  immediately  detaches  it  as  so     as 
the  fish  is  struck.        ^rv^  t^^'  ' 

The  whale  is  considered  as  the  king^s  fi  i.  and 
no  other  person,  when  he  is  present,  is  permitted  to 
touch  him,  until  the  royal  harpooa  has  fiKst  urawn 
his  bloQd,  however  near  he  r»jay  approach-,    and 


I:  in 

I.  (I 

(■*• 


u^r: 


i  !.: 


:?i 


u\ 


81 


<'i' 


H  would  be  considered  air  osl  as  sacrilege  for  any 
of  the  common  people  to  strike  a  whale,  before  ht 
is  kille(!f,  particularly  if  any  of  the  chiefs  should  be 
present.  They  also  kill  the  porpoise  and  sea  cow  , 
with  harpoors,  but  this  inferior  game  is  not  inter- 
dicted the  lower  class*  Ai/.m^^it^-^ 

With  regard  to  their  canoes,  some  of  the  hand- 
somest to  be  found  on  the  whole  coast  are  made  at 
Nootka,  though  very  fine  ones  ire  brought  by  the 
Wickininish  and  the  Kla-iz-zarts,  who  have  them 
more  highly  ornamented.  They  are  of  all  sizes, 
from  such  as  are  capable  of  holding  only  one  per- 
son to^  their  largest  war  canoes,  which  will  carry 
forty  men,  and  are~extremely  light*'  Of  these,  the 
h^gest  of  any  that  I  ever  saw,  was  one  belonging 
to  Macquina,  which  I  measured,  and  found  to  be 
foruhtwo  feet  }ix  inches  in  length  at  the  bottom, 
and  forty'Hx  feet  from  stem  to  stem.  These  are 
made  of  pine  hollowed  out  from  a  tree  with  their 
chisels  solely,  which  are  about  three  inches  broad 
and  six  in  length,  and  set  into  a  handle  of  very 
hard  wood. 

This  instrument  was  formerly  made  of  flint,  or 
gome  hard  stone  ground  down  to  as  sharp  an  i^gt 
as  possible,  but  since  they  have  learned  the  use  of 
iron,  they  have  almost  all  of  them  of  that  metal. 
Instead  of  a  mallet  for  striking  this  chiseK  they 
make  use  of  a  smooth  round  stone,  which  tjiey  hold 


IV  . 


86 


in  the  palm  of  the  hand.  With  this  same  awk- 
ward instrument,  they  not  only  excavate  th^ir 
canoes  and  trays,  and  smooth  their  plank,  but  cut 
down  such  trees  as  they  want,  either  for  building, 
fuel,  or  other  purposes,  a  labour  which  is  mostly 
done  by  their  slaves. 


The  felling  of  Uee9,  as  practised  by  them,  is  a 
slow  and  most  tedious  process,  three  of  them  being 
generally  from  two  to  three  days  in  cutting  down  a 
large  one;  yet  so  attached  were  they  to  their  own 
method,  that  notwithstanding  they  saw  Thompson 
frequently  with  one  of  our  axes,  of  which  there 
was  aiiumber  saved,  fell  a  tree  in  less  time  than 
they  could  have  gone  round  it  with  their  chisels, 
still  they  could  not  be  persuaded  to  make  u«e  of 
them,  • 


] 


:»  ■ '» 


After  hollowing  out  their  canoes,  which  they  do 
very  neatly ;  they  fashion  the  outside,  and  slightly 
burn  it  for  the  purpose  of  removing  any  splinters 
or  small  points  that  might  obstruct  its  passage 
through  the  water,  after  which  they  rub  it  over 
thoroughly  with  rushes  or  coarse  matA,  in  order  to 
smooth  it,  which  not  only  renders  it  almost  as 
smooth  as  glass,  but  forms  a  better  ^curity  for  it 
from  the  weather ;  this  operation  of  burning  and 
rubbing  dowu  the  bottoms  of  iheir  canoes,  is  prac- 
tised as  often  as  they  acquire  any   considerable 


i  ■  '!■ 


V 


wA 


t^;i* 


86 

degree  of  roaghness  from  aie.  The  outside,  by 
this  meaosy  becomes  quite  ^  ^ack,  and  to  complete 
their  work,  they  paiot  the  inside  of  a  bright  red, 
with  ochre,  or  some  other  similar  substance ;  the 
prows  and  sterns  are  almost  always  ornamented 
with  figures  of  ducks,  or  some  other  kind  of  bird* 
the  former  being  so  fashioned  as  to  represent  the 
bead,  and  the  latter  the  tail  ;^  these  are  separate 
pieces  from  the  canoe,  mod  are  fastened  to  it  with 
small  flexible  twigs  or  bark  cord.. 

Some  of  these  canoes,  particularly  those  employ- 
ed in  whaling,  which  will  hold  about  ten  men,  are 

i  orDairieoted  within  about  two  inches  below  the  gun- 
wale, with  two  parallel  lines  on  each  nide  of  very 
•mall  white  i«heils,  running  fore  and  aft,  which  has 
M  very  pretty  elTect.  Their  Mar  caaoes  have  no 
ornament  of  thin  kind,  but  are  paintud  on  the  out- 
side with  figures  in  vvliife  chalk,  representing 
eaglcR:  M^h.  es,  huiuau  heads,  <ic.  They  are  very 
dex(erou8  io  the   usft  of  their  paddles,  whicl'i  are 

'  very  neatly  wroiij^lit,  and  are  five  fe(-t  long,  with  a 
short  hand'es  and  a  biade  seveo  inches  broad  in  the 
riiiddie.  ta^enn-:  lo  a  shHrp  point-  VVjih  these  they 
will  make  a  eanoe  si' in?  very  «wiitly  on  ttie  water, 
with  scarcely  any  no^e,  whiie  ti.ey  keep  time  to  the 
stroke  of  the  pad*Jle  with  tnen  i^ongs. 


they 

and 

publ 

the 

man 

con^ 

that 

selv 

fron 

larl 

whe 

the 

Ian 


With  regard  to  these,  they  have  a  number  which 


87 

they  sing  oo  varioas  occasions  ;  as  w^^*  whaliog, 
and  fishing,  at  their  marriages  and  feasts,  and  at 
public  festivals  or  solemnities.    The  language  of 
the  most  of  these  appears  to  be  very  different,  in 
many  respects,  from  that   used  in  their   commoa 
conversation,    which  leads  me  to  believe,  either 
that  they  have  a  different  mode  of  expressing  them- 
selves in  poetry,  or  that  they  borrow  their  songs 
from  their  neighbours;  and  what  the  more  particu- 
larly induces   me  to  the  latter  opinion  is,   that 
whenever  any  of  the  Newchemass,  a  people  from 
the  Northward,  and   who  speak  a  very  different 
language,  arrived,  they  used  to  tell  me  that  they 
expected  a  new  song,  and  were  almost  always  sure 
to  have  one. 


•U 


■, 


Their  tunes  are  generally  soft  and  plaintive,  and 
though  not  possessing  great  variety,  are  not  defici- 
ent in  harmony. — Their  singing  is  generally  accom- 
panied with  several  rude  kinds  of  instrumental 
music ;  among  the  most  prominent  of  which  is  a 
kind  of  a  dram.  Thie  is  nothing  more  than  a  long  , 
plank  hollowed  out  tm  the  binder  side  and  made 
quite  thin,  which  is  beat  upon  by  a  stick  of  about 
a  foot  long,  and  renders  a  sound  not  unlike  beating 
on  the  head  of  an  empty  cask,  but  much  loader. 


.   I 


t    I 


mi: 


:  *     t 
( 


But  the  two  most  favourite  instruments  are  the 


f. 


*  A  specimen  of  one  of  their  war  800(8  mil  be  found  at 
theendof  this  work% 


..-.HJ 


«8 

Tattle  and  the  pipe  or  whistle;  tliese  are  however 
only  used  by  the  kiqg,  the  chiefs,  or  some  particu- ' 
lar  persons;  the  former  is  made  of   dried  seal-skin, 
so  as  to  represent  a  fish,  and  is  filled  with  aiium*i^ 
ber  of  small  smooth  pebbles,  it  has  a  short  handle 
and  is  painted  red.     The  whistle  h  made  of  bone, 
generally  the  leg  of  a  deer,  it  is  short  bat  emits  a 
v«ry  shrill  soand.      They  have  likewise  another 
kind  of  music,  which  they  make  use  of  in  dancing,'^ 
in  the   manner  of  castanets,  this  is  produced  by  a 
number  of  muscle  or  cockle  shells  tied  together 
and  shaken  to  a  kind  of  tune,  which  is  accompa- 
nied with  the  voice. 


:      i^t 


Their  slayes,  as  I  have  observed,  form  their 
most  valuable  species  of  property.  These  are  of 
both  sexes,  being  either  captives  taken  by  them- 
selves in  war,  or  purchased  from  the  neighbouring 
tribes,  and  who  reside  in  the  same  house,  forming 
as  it  wereti'partof  the  family,  afe  usually  kindly 
treated,  eat  of  the  same  food,  and  live  as  well  as 
their  masters.  They  are  compelled  however  at 
times  to  labour  severely,  as  not  only  all  the  menial 
offices  are  performed  by  them,  such  as  bringing  wa- 
ter, cutting  wood  and  a  variety  of  others,  but  they 
are  obliged  to  make  the  canoes*  to  assist  in  build- 
ing and  repairing  the  hou8es,«to  supply  their  mas- 
ters with  fish,  and  to  attend  them  in  war  and  to 
fight  for  them.  .  .  ^  ... 


89 


i 


None  but  the  king  and  chiefs  have  slavei,  the 
cdminoD  people  being  preveDted  from  holding  them 
either  from  theii  inability  to  parchase  them,  or  as  T 
am  rather  inclined  to  think  from  its  being  considered 
as  the  privilege  of  the  former  alone  to  have  themy 
especially  as  all  those  made  prisoners  hi  war  belong 
either  to  the  king  or  the  chiefs,  wno  have  captured 
them,  each  one  holding  such  as  have  been  taken  by 
himself  or  his  slaves.  There  is  probably  however 
some  little  distinction  in  favor  of  the  king,  who  is 
always  the  commander  of  the  e:Kpedition,  as  Ma* 
quina  had  nearly  fifty,  male  and  female,  in  his 
house,  a  number  constituting  about  one  half  of  its 
inhabitants,  comprehending  those  obtained  by  war 
and  purchase,  whereas  none  of  the  other  chiefs  had 
more  than  twelve.  The  females  are  employed 
principally  in  manufacturing  cloth,  in  cooking, 
collecting  berries,  &c.  and  with  regard  to  food  and 
living  in  general  have  not  a  much  harder  lot  than 
their  mistresses,  the  principal  difference  consisting, 
in  these  poor  unfortunate  creatures  being  considered 
as  free  to  any  one,  their  masters  prostituting  them 
whenever  they  think  proper  for  the  purpose  of  gain. 
Id  this  way  many  of  them  are  brought  on  board  the 
ships  and  offered  to  the  crews,  from  whence  an  opi- 
nion appears  to  have  been  formed  by  some  of  our 
navigators,  injurious  to  the  chastity  of  their  fe- 
males, than  which  nothii^  can  be  more  generally 
untrue,  as  perhaps  in  no  part  of  the  world  is  that 
virtue  more  prized.  ' 

I 


t  : 


: 


.      IP 


I     ' 


*l  I 


.i::6ili ' 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


21    12.5 


|S6 


I' 
I 


1^ 


12.2 


^   ll£    III  2.0 


1.8 


1.4 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  145S0 

(716)  •73-4503 


^ 


m 


m. 


^ 


iN" 


V> 


6^ 


«-- 


■^' 


1^ 


6^ 


|v,  :■  ;  : 


90       " 

y 

The  houses  at   Nootka  as  already  stated,  are 
about  twenty,  without  comprising  those  inhabited 
by  the  Klahars,  a  small  tribe  that  has  been  con- 
quered aud  incoporated  into  that  of  Nootka,  though 
they  must  be  considered  as  in  a  state  of  vassalage 
as  they  are  not  permitted  to  have  any  chiefs  among 
them,  and  live  by  themselves  in  a  cluster  of  small 
houses  at  a  little  distance  from  the  village.     The 
Nootka  tribe  which  consists  of  about  five  hundred 
warriors,  is  not  only  more  numerous  than  almost 
any  of  the  neighbouring  tribes,  but  far  exceeds  them 
in  the  strength  and  martial  spirit  of  its  people;  and 
in  fact  there  are  but  few  nations  within  a  hundred 
miles  either  to  the  North  or  South  but  are  considered 
as  tributary  to  them. 


■vVvt' 


T'5^     Si      • 


In  giving  some  account  of  the  tribes  that  were 
accustomed  to  visit  Nootka,  I  shall  commence  at 
the  Soutliward  with  the  Kla-iz  zarts,  and^the  Wick- 
ininibh,  premising  that  m  point  of  personal  appear- 
ance there  prevails  a  wonderful  diversity  between 
the  various  tribes  on  the  coast,  with  the  exception 
of  the  feet  and  legs,  which  are  badly  shaped  in 
almost  all  of  them  from  their  practice  of  sitting  on 
them.  .        . 


tt'.. 


The  Kla-iz-zarts  are  a  numerous  and  powerful 
tribe,  living  nearly  three  hundred  miles  to  the  South 
aud  are  said  to  consist  of  more  than  a  thousand  war- 
riors.   They  appear  to  be  more  civilized  than  any  of 


01 

the  others,  being  better  and  more  neatly  dressed, 
more  mild  and  affable  in  thefr  manners,  remarkable 
for  their  sprlgbtliness  and  vivacity,  and  celebrated 
for  their  singing  and  dancing.    They  exibit  also 
greater  marks   of  improvement    in    whatever    is 
wrought  by  them;  their  canoes  though  not  superior 
to  those  of  Nootka  in  point  of  form  and  lightness, 
are  more  highly  ornamented,  and  their  weapons 
and  tools  of  every  kind  have  a  much  higher  finish 
and  display  more  skill  in  the  workmanship.    Their 
cast  of  countenence  is  very  different  from  tliat  of 
the  Nootkians,  their  faces  being  very  broad,  with 
a  less  prominent  nose  and  smaller  eyes,  and  the  top 
of  the  head  flattened  as  if  it  had  been  pressed  dovva 
with  a  weight.     Their  complexion  is  also  much 
fairer,  and  their  stature  shorter,  though  they  are 
well  formed  and  strongly  set.  "  . 

They  have  a  custom  which  appears  to  be  peculiar 
to  them,  as  I  never  observed  it  in  any  of  the  olher 
tribes,  which  is  to  pluck  out  not  only  their  beardi^, 
and  the  hair  from  their  bodies,  but  also  their  eye- 
brows, so  as  not  to  leave  a  vestige  remaining. 
They  were  also  in  general  more  skilful  in  painting 
and  decorating  themselves,  and  I  have  seen  some  of 
them  with  no  less  than  a  dozen  holes  in  each  of  their 
ears  to  which  were  surspended  strings  of  small  beads 
about  two  inches  in  length.  Their  langua;;e  is  the 
same  as  spoken  at  Nootka,  but  their  pronunciation 
is  much  more  hoarse  and  guttural.     These  people 

IS 


n 


.% 


% 


r^! 


1?" 

■b  . 


! 


H 


■  hm  i 


.lil 


92 

are  not  ooly  very  expert  ia  whaling,  but  are  great 
banters,  of  the  sea  otter  and  other  animals,  with 
which  their  country  is  said  to  abound,  and  the  Meta.- 
melth  a  large  animal  of  the  deer  kind,  the  skin  of 
whieh  I  have  already  spoken  of,  another  of  a  light 
grey  colour,  with  very  fine  hait  from  which  they 
mann&cture  a  hanjdsome  cloth,  the  beaver,  ^nd  a 
species  of  largr)  wild  cat,  or  tyger  cat* 


:  'I 


The  Wickinnish,  their  neighbours  on  the  North, 
are  about  two  hundred  miles  from  Nootka.  They 
are  a  robust  strong  and  warlike  people,  but  consi« 
dered  by  the  Nootkians  as  their  inferiors  in  courage. 
This  tribe  is  ihrre  numerous  than  that  of  Nootka, 
amounting  to  between  six  and  seven  hundred  warri- 
ors. Though  not  so  civilized  as  the  Kla-izzarts 
and  less  skilful  in  their  manufactures,  like  them 
they  employ  themselves  in  hunting  as  well  as  in 
whalinf;  and  fisbicg.  Their  faces  are  broad  but  less 
vo  than  the  K!a-iz-zarfs,  with  a  darker  complexion, 
and  a  much  less  open  and  pleasing  expression  of 
countenance,  while  their  heads  preseiut  a  very  diffe- 
rent form,  being  pressed  in  at  the  sides  and  length- 
ened towards  the  top,  somewhat  in  the  shape  of  a 
sugar  loaf.  These  people  are  very  frequent  visitors 
at  Nootka,  a  close  friendship  subsisting  between 
the  two  nations,  Maquina's  Arcomah,  or  Queen, 
Y-j/a-fintla-no,  being  the  daughter  of  the  Wickinni- 
nish  king.  /        ,  •'  it: 


-^k- 


93 

The  Kla*oo*quates  adjoining  them  on  the  North 
are  much  less  oamerooB,  their  forcis  not  exceeding 
four  hundred  fighting  men ;  they  are  also  behind 
them  in  the  arts  of  life.  These  are  a  fierce,  bold, 
and  enterprizing  people,  and  there  were  none  that 
visited  Nootka,  whom  Maquina  used  to  be  mpre  on 
his  guard  against,  or  viewed  with  so  much  sn»pici- 
on.  The  £shquates  are  about  the  same  number; 
these  are  considered  as  tributary  to  Maquina : 
Their  coast  abounds^  with  rivers,  creeks,  and 
marshesr        ,  .. 

To  the  North  the  nearest  tribe  of  any  importance 
is  the  Aitizzarts ;  these  however  do  not  exceed 
three  hundred  warriors.  In  appearance  they  greatly 
resemble  the  people  of  Nootka,  to  whom  they  are 
considered  as  tributary,  their  manners,  dress,  and 
style  of  living  also  being  very  similar.  They  reside 
at  about  forty  miles  distance  up  the  sound.  A  con- 
siderable way  farther  to  the  northward  are  the 
Cayuquets\  these  are  a  much  more  numerous  tribe 
than  that  of  Nootka  but  thought  by  the  latter  to  be 
deficient  in  courage  and  martial  spirit,  Maquina 
having  frequently  told  me  that  their  hearts  were 
a  little  like  those  of  birds. 


!! 


'f 


v: 


■.i; 


■ 


f 

.    I 

;; 


There  are  also  both  at  the  North  and  South 
many  other  intervening  -  tribes,  bat  in  general 
small  in  number  and  insignificant,  all  of  whom 
as  well  as  the  above  mentioned  speak  the  same 


3 


^^'1 


:| 


w>  % 


|i    .  " 


^     94 

languager    But  the  Newchemass  who  come  from 
a  great  way  to  the  Northward,    aad  from  some 
distance  inland,  as  I  was  told  by  Maquioa,  8p.eak 
quite  a  different  language,   although    it  is    well 
understood^  by  those  of  Nootka.     These  were  the 
most  savage  looking  apd  ugly  men  thi^t  1  ever  saw, 
Iheir  complexion  being  much  darker,  their  stature 
shorter,  and  their  hair  coarser,  than  that  of  the  other 
nations,  and  their  dress  and  appearance  dirty  in  an 
extreme.     They  wear  their  beards  long  like  Jewf, 
and  have  a  very  morose  and  surly   coqntenace* 
Their  usual  dress  is  a  Kootsuk  made  of  wolf  skin, 
with  a  number  of  the  tails  attached  to  it,  of  which 
I  have  seen  no  less  than  ten  on  one  garment,  bang- 
ing from  the  top  to  the  bottom ;  though  they  some- 
times wear  a  similar  mantle  of  bark  cloth,  of  a  much 
coarser  texture  than  that  of  Nootka,  the  original 
of  which  appears  io  be  the  same,  though  from  their 
very  great  filthiness  it  was  almost  impossibly  to  dis- 
cover what  it  had  been.     . 


:.$„..  i-\ 


*;;-tv  M. 


Their  mode  of  dressing  their  hair  also  varies  es- 
sentially from  that  o!  the  other  tribes,  for  they 
suffer  that  on  the  back  of  the  head  to  hang  loose, 
and  bind  the  other  over  their  foreheads  in  the  man- 
ner of  a  fillett,  with  a  strip  of  their  country  cloth, 
ornamented  with  small  white  shells.  Their  wea- 
pons are  the  CheeiooUhy  or  war-club,  which  is 
made  from  whale  bone,  daggers,  bow  and  arrows, 
and  a  kind  of  spear  pointed  with  boB«  or  copper. 


95 

• 

They  bronght  wi^h  them  no  furs  for  gfile  excepting; 
a  few  wolf  skios,  their  merchandize  oonsistiog 
principally  of  the  black  fihining  mineral  called  pel- 
peth,  and  the  fine  red  paint  which  they  carefally 
kept  in  close  mat  bags,  some  small  dried  salmon, 
clams,  and  roes  of  fish,  with  occasionally  a  little 
coarse  matting  cloth.  They  were  accustomed  to 
reniain  a  much  longer  time  at  Nootka  than  the  other 
tribes,  in  order  to  recover  from  the  fatigue  of  a 
long  journey,  part  of  which  was  over  land,  and  on 
these  occasions  taught  their  songs  to  our  savages. 

. '  The  trade  of  most  of  the  other  tribes  with  Noot- 
ka,, was  principally  train  oil>  seal  or  whale's  blub- 
ber, fish  fresh  or  dried,  herring  or  salmon  spawn, 
clams,  and  muscles,  and  the  ^ama^  a  species  of 
fruit  which  is  pressed  and  dried,  cloib)  sea  otter 
skins,  and  slaves.     From  the  Aitizzarts,  and  the 
Caynquets,    particularly  the    former,     the    best 
I-whaw  and  in  the  greatest  quantities  was  obtained* 
The  Eshquates  furnished  us  with  wild  ducks  and 
geese,  particularly  the  latter.    The  Wickiniqish 
and  Kla-iz*zart»  brought  to  ^larket  many  slaves, 
the  best  sea  otter  skins,  gres^t  quantities  of  oil, 
whale  sinew?   and    eakes  of   )^\^  yama^    highly 
ornamented  canoes,  some  I-whaw,  red  ochre  and 
pelpeth  of  an  inferior  quality  to  that  obtained  from 
the  Newcbemass,    but  particularly  the  so  much 
valued  Metamelih^  and  an  excellant  root  called  by 
the  Kla-iz-zarts  Quawnoose.    This  is  the  size  of  a 


i'll 


i  1* 


'.< 


%* 


■:1 


,il 


'  i;v    if 


i        I 


if  i 


'  .fi 


9e 


if 


u 


I 


]•' 


:r 


ill .  ■ 

ft  '  t  '  '• 

'{    ;  ^  i 

m 


m 


i. 
•  '■.; 

'it:' 


'■:  ?f 


I  -^4 
'if 

^^4 


small  onion ,  bat  rather  longer,  being  of  a  tapering 
form  like  a  pear,  and  of  a  brownish  coloar.  It  is 
cooked  by  steam,  is  always  brought  in  baskets 
ready  prepared  for  eating,  and  is  in  truth  a  very 
fine  vegetable,  being  sweet,  mealy  and  of  a  most 
agreeable  flavour.  It  was  highly  esteemed  by  the 
natives  who  used  to  eat  it  as  they  did  every  thing 
else  with  train  oil.  From  the  Kla-iz-zarts  was 
also  received,  though  in  no  great  quantity,  a  cloth 
manufactured  by  them  from  the  fur  already  spoken 
of,  w  >?ch  feels  like  wool  and  is  of  a  grey  colour.    ' 

Maty  of  the  articles  thus  brought,  particularly 
the  provisions,  were  considered  as  presents^  or 
tributary  offerings,  but  this  must  be  viewed  as  little 
more  than  a  nominal  acknowledgement  ofsuperio 
ority,  as  they  rarely  failed  to  get  the  full  amount  of 
the  value  of  their  presents.  I  have  known  etghteen 
of  the  great  tubs,  in  which  they  keep  their  provisi- 
ons, filled  with  spawn  brought  in  this  way.  On 
these  occasions  a  great  feast  is  always  made,  to 
which  not  only  the  strangers,  but  the  whole  villa|;« 
men,  women,  ^and  children  are  generally  invited, 
and  I  have  seen  five  of  the  largest  tubs  employed 
at  such  time,  in  cooking  at  the  king^s  house.  At 
these  feasts  they  generally  indulge  in  eating  to  an 
excess,  making  up  in  this  respect  for  their  want  of 
iniebrating  liquors,  which  they  know  no  method  of 
preparing  in  any  form,  their  only  dnnk  being 
water. 


-if ■■■■(■■■  ■';.!■ 


97 


Whenever  they  came  to  visit  or  trade,  it  was 
their  general  custom,  to  stop  a  few  miles  distant 
under  the  Ice  of  some  bluff  or  rock,  and  rig  them* 
selves  out  in  their  best  manner,  by  painting  and 
dressing  their  heads.  On  their  first  coming  on  shore 
they  were  invited  to  eat  by  the  king,  when  they 
brought  to  him  such  articles  as  he  wantsd,  after 
which  the  rest  of  the  Inhabitants  were  permitted  to 
purchase,  the  strangers  being  careful  to  keep  them 
in  their  canoes  until  sold,  under  strict  guard  to 
prevent  their  being  stolen,  the  disposition  of  these 
people  for  thieving  being  sc  great,  that  it  is  necessa- 
ry to  keep  a  watciuul  eye  npoa  them* 

Thiswas  their  usual  mode  oftrafSck,  but  when- 
ever they  wished  to  purchase  any  particular  object, 
as  for  instance,  a  certain  slave,  or  some  other  thing 
of  which  they  were  very  desirous,  the  canoe  that 
came  for  this  purpose  would  lie  off  a  little  distance 
from  the  shore,  and  a  kind  of  ambassador  or  repre- 
sentative of  the  king  or  chief  by  whom  it  was  sent, 
dressed  in  their  best  manner,  and  with  his  hea() 
covered  with  the  white  down,  would  rise,  and  after 
making  known  the  object  of  his  mission  in  a  pom- 
pous speech,  hold  up  specimens  of  such  articles  as 
he  was  instructed  to  offer  in  payment,  mentioning 
the  number  or  quantity  of  e^ch,  when  if  the  bar- 
gain was  concluded,  the  exchange  was  immediately 
made. 


!, 


a 


^■' 


it 


i  t 


;  'f 


i 


m 


f 


98 

OtT  their  visits  of  friendship  or  traffic,  the  chiefs 
alone  used  to  sleep  on  shore,  this  was  generally 
at  the  hoQse  of  the  king  or  the  head  chief,  the  others 
parssing  the  night  on  hoard  of  their  canoes,  which 
was  done  not  only  for  the  preservation  of  their 
property,  but  because  they  were  not  permitted  to 
remain  on  shore,  lest  they  might  excite  some  dis- 
tturbance  or  commit  depredations*     " 


;■.»*    ^H. 


tf^ 


[!=-'  > 


All  these  people  generally  go  armed,  the  com- 
mon class  wearing  only  a  dagger  suspended  from 
their  neck  behind,  with  a  string  of  metamelth,  and 
sonnetimes  thrust  in  their  girdles.     Ths  chiefs,  in 
addition  to  the  dagger,  carry  the  cheetolthy  or  war 
club  8U8pended  in  the  same  msmner  beneath  their 
mantles;  this  in  the  hands  of  a  strong  man,  is  a 
powerful  weapon,   in  the  management  of  which, 
some  of  the  older  chiefs  are  very  dexterous.    It  is 
made  from  the  bone  of  a  whale,  and  is  very  heavy. 
The  blade  is  about  eighteen  inches  long  and  three 
broad,  till  it  approaches  near  the  point,  where  it 
expands  to  the  breadth  of  four  inches.     In  the 
middle,    from   whence  it  slopes  oflT  gradually   to 
an  edge  on  each  side,  it  is  from  one  to  two  inches 
in  thickness.     This  blade  is  usually  covered  with 
figures  of  the  sun  and  moon,  a  man^s  bead,  &c. 
and  the  hilt,  which  is  made  to  represent  the  head 
of  a  man  or  some  animal,  is  curiously  set  with 
small  white  shells,  and  has  a  band  of  metamelth 


09 

Tastencd  to  it  Id  order  to  sliug  it  over  ll>c  shoulder. 
Some  of  the  tribes  have  alao  a  kind  of  Apcar  headed 
with  copper  or  the  boDe  of  the  stiog  ray,  which  is  a 
dangerous  weapon ;  this  is,  however,  not  usual, 
and  only  carried  by  the  chiefs.  The  bow  aud 
arrow  are  still  u^ed  by  a  few,  but  sioce  the  iniro- 
d action  of  fire-arms  among  them,  this  weapon  has 
been  mostly  laid  aside.      ,  ^ 

But  to  return  to  our  unhappy  situation.    Though 
my  comrade  and  myself  fared  as  well,   and  even 
better  than  we  could  have  expected  among  these 
people,  considering  their  customs  and  mode  of  living, 
yet  our  feass  lest  ho  ship  would  come  to  our  release, 
and  that  we  should  never  more  behold  a  Christian 
country^  were  to  Us  a  source  of  constant  pain.    Our 
principal  consolation  in  this  gloomy  state,  was  to 
go  on  Sundays,  whenever  the  weather  would  per- 
mit, to  the  borders  of  a  fresh  water  pond,  about  a 
mile  from  the  village,  where,  after  bathing,  and 
putting  on  clean  clothes,  we  would  seat  ourselves 
under  the  shade  of  a  beautiful  pine,  while  I  read 
some  chapters  in  the  Bible,  and  the  prayers  ap- 
pointed by  our  Church  for  the  day,  ending  our 
devotions  with  a  fervent  prayer  to  the  Almighty, 
that  he  would  deign  still  to  watch  over  and  pre- 
serve our  lives,  rescue  us  from  the  hands  of  the 
savages,  and  permit  us  once  more  to  behold  a  Chris- 


tian land. 


J  ''f:iL..:^:^^^'i'i  ^  — ^;J'v<A  jM.^'^^j^Vrlt  vjjo 


1  '.  I 

14  I  ! 


*  II 


( 


,i 


i 


r 

MaI-'' 

m 

1? 

nil! 

HI 

■  t;.  : 

1, . 

n'K' ' 

1' 

It!   ■ 


*1" 


100 

In  this  tnanner  Wefft  ffie  greater  part  of  oor  Sun- 
days passed  at  Nootka;  and  I  felt  grateful  to  hea- 
ven, that  amidst  our  other  laflferiDgfl,  we  were  at 
least  allowed  the  pleasure  of  oflTering  up  our  devo- 
tions unmolested,  for  Maquina,  on  my  explaining 
to  him  as  well  as  was  in  my  power  the  reason  of 
our  thus  retiring  at  this  time,  far  from  objecting, 
readily  consetited  to  it.  The  pond  above  mentioned 
was  small,  not  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in 
breadth,  and  of  no  great  length,  the  water  being 
very  clear,  though  not  of  great  depth,  and  bor- 
dered by  a  beautiful  forest  of  pine,  fir,  elm,  and 
and  beach,  free  from  bushes  and  underwood — a 
most  delightful  retreat,  which  was  rendered  still 
more  attractive  by  a  great  number  of  birds  that 
frequented  it,  particularly  the  bumming  bird.  Thi- 
ther we  used  to  go  to  wash  our  clothes,  and  felt 
secure  from  any  intrusion  from  the  natives,  as  they 
rarely  visited  it,  except  for  the  purpose  of  cleansing 
themselves  of  their  paint. 

In  July  we  at  length  thought  that  the  hope  of 
dePivery  we  had  so  long  anxiously  indulged,  was 
on  the  point  of  being  gratified.  A  ship  appeared 
in  the  offing;  but  alas!  our  fond  hopes  vanished 
almost  as  soon  as  formed ;  for  instead  of  standing 
in  for  the  shore  she  passed  to  the  northward,  and 
soon  disappeared.  I  shall  not  atterafpt  to  describe 
our  disappointmeDt— my  heart  sunk  within  me,  and 


I' 


101 


I  felt  as  thongli  it  was  my  destiny  never  more  to 
behold  a  Christian  face.  Foar  days  after  there 
r^rcprrcd  a  tremendous  alprm  of  thunder  and  light* 
ning,  during  which  the  natives  manifested  great 
alarm  and  terror,  the  whole  tribe  hurrying  tu  Ma- 
quina*s  house,  where,  instead  of  keeping  within, 
they  seated  themselves  on  the  roof,  amid  the  se- 
verest of  the  tempest,  drumming  upon  the  boards, 
and  looking  up  to  heaven,  while  the  king  beat  the 
long  hollow  plank,  singing,  and,  as  he  aftcrwardit 
told  me,  begging  Quafiooiza,  the  name  they  give 
to  God,  not  to  kill  them,  in  which  he  was  accom- 
panied by  the  whole  tribe;  this  singing  and  drum- 
ming was  continued  until  the  storm  abated. 

As  the  summer  drew  near  its  close,  we  began  to 
suffer  from  the  frequent  want  of  food,  which  was  prin- 
cipally owing  to  Maquina  and  the  chiefs  being  out 
whaling,  in  which  he  would  not  permit  Thompson 
and  myself  to  join,  lest  we  should  make.our  escape 
to  some  of  the  neighbouring  tribes.  At  tliese  times 
the  women  seldom  or  ever  cook  any  provision,  and 
w«  were  often  hungry,  but  were  sometimes  fortu- 
nate enough  to  procare  secretly,  a  piece  of  salmon, 
some  other  fisii,  spawn,  or  even  blubber,  which, 
by  boiling  in  salt  water,  with  a  few  onions  and 
turnips,  the  remains  of  the  Spanish  garden,  or 
young  nettles  or  other  herbs,  furnished,  us  a  deli- 
cious repast  in  private.  .  * 


ii 


! 


'  il 


'!) 


i'f  !l 


^  it 


'Mi 


If » 


VP 


102       / 

lo  the  mean  time,  we  frequently  received  ac- 
counts from  the  tribes  who  came  to  Nootka,  both 
from  the  North  and  South,  of  there  being  vessels 
on  the  coast,  and  were  advised  by  their  chiefs  to 
make  our  escape,  who  also  promisf'd  us  their  aid, 
and  to  put  us  on. board.  These  stories,  however, 
as  1  afterwards  learned,  were  almost  all  of  them 
without  any  foundation,  and  merely  invented  by 
these  people  with  a  view  to  get  us  into  their  power, 
in  order  to  make  slaves  of  us  themselves,  or  to  sell 
us  to  others.    .  .  *.     -.^ 

But  I  was  still  more  strongly  solicited  to  leave 
Nootka  by  a  woman.  This  was  a  Wickinninish 
princess,  a  younger  sister  of  Maquina^s  wife,  who 
was  there  on  a  visit.  I  had  the  good  fortune,  if  it 
may  be  so  called,  to  become  quite  a  favourite  with 
her.  She  appeared  much  interested  for  me — asked 
me  many  questions  respecting  my  country,  if  I 
had  a  mother  and  sister  at  home,  and  if  they  would 
not  grieve  for  my  absence.  Her  complexion  was 
fairer  than  that  of  the  women  in  general,  and  h^r 
features  more  regular,  and  she  would  have  been 
quite  handelbme  had  it  not  been  for  a  defect  in  one 
of  her  eyes,  the  sight  of  which  had  been  injured  by 
some  accident,  the  reason,  as  Maquina  told  me, 
why  she  had  not  been  married,  a  defect  of  this  kind 
being  by  these  savages  considered  as  almost  an 
insuperable  objection.  She  urg^  me  repeatedly  to 
return  with  her,  telling  me  that  Ihe  Wickjoninisk 


103 

V 

t 

*A'ere  mach  better  ih»Q  the  Nootkians;  that  her 
father  would  treat  .nore  kindly  than  Maquiua, 
give  me  better  food  and  clothes,  and  finally  put 
me  on  board  one  of  my  own  country  vessels.  I 
felt,  however,  little  disposed  to  accompany  her, 
considering  my  lituadoa  with  Maquina  full  as 
eligible  ai  it  would  be  with  WickinniDishy  if  not 
better,   Dotwilhstanding  all  she  said  to  the  coq* 


■  i 


%i 


h 


On  the  3d  of  September,  the  w^hole  tribe-quitted 
Nootka,  according  to  their  constant  practice,  in 
order  to  pass  the  autumn  and  winter  at  Tashees 
ftod  Cooptee,  the  latter  lying  about  thirty  miles  op 
the  Sound,  in  a  deep  bay,  the  navigation  of  which 
is  very  dangerous,  from  the  great  number  of  reefs 
and  rocks  with  wl^ch  it  abounds.  On  these  occa- 
sions every  thing  is  taken  with  them,  even  the 
planks  of  their  houses,  in  order  to  cover  their  new 
dwellings.  To  an  European,  such  a  removal  exhi- 
bits a  scene  quite  novel  and  strange  :  canoes  piled 
op  with  boards  and  boxes,  and  filled  with  men, 
women  and  children,  of  all  ranks  and  sizes,  making 
^;he  air  resound  with  their  cries  and  songs.         .  ^. 

At  these  times,  as  well  as  when  they  have  occa- 
lion  to  go  some  distance  from  their  houses,  the 
infants  are  usually  suspended  across  the  mother's 
shoulder^)  in  a  kind  of  cradle  or  hauitnocki  formed 

K  2  *     ,.,■    . 


104  .    - 

of  bark,  of  about  six  inches  ia  depth,  aud  of  the 
length  of  the  child,  by  means  of  a  leather  band 
inserted  through  loops  on  its  edges;  this  they  abo 
keep  them  in  when  at  home,  in  order  tv>  preserve 
them  in  a  straight  position,  and  prevent  any  dis- 
tortion of  the  limbs,  most  probably  a  principal 
cause  of  these  people  being  so  seldom  deformed  or 
crookedi  '      ,;    i   .     '-  r    ^ 

The  long  boat  of  aar  ship  having  been  repaired 
and  furnished  with  a  sail  by  Thompson,  Maquina 
gave  us  the  direction  of  it,  we  being  better  ac- 
quainted with  managing  it  than  his  people,  and 
after  loading  her  as  deep  a«  she  could  swim,  we  pro- 
ceeded  in  company  with  them  to  the  North,  quitting 
Nootka  with  heavy  hearts,  as  we  could  entertain 
no  hopes  of  release  until  our  return,  no  ships 
ever  coming  to  that  part  of  the  coast.  Passing  Coop- 
tee,  which  is  situated  on  the  southern  bank,  just 
within  the  mouth  of  a  small  river  flowingr  from 
the  east  in  a  narrow  valley  at  the  foot  of  a  mountain, 
we  proceeded  about  fifteen  miles  up  this  stream  to 
Tashees,  between  a  range  of  lofty  bills  on  each  side, 
which  extend  a  great  distance  inland,  and  are 
covered  with  the  finest  forest  trees  of  the  country. 
Immediately  on  our  arrival,  we  all  went  to  work 
very  diligently  in  covering  the  honses  with  the 
planks  we  had  brought,  the  frames  being  ready 
erected,  these  people  never  pretending  to  remove 
the  timber.    In  a  very  sliort  time  tbe  work  was 


1^1 


106 

completed,  ao(]  we  were  established  in  our  new 
residence.  ., 

Tashees  is  pleasantly  situated  and  in  a  mo?'  se- 
care  position  from  ttie  winter  storms,  in  a  small 
vale  or  hollow  on  the  south  shore,  at  the  foot  of  a 
mountain.  The  spot  on  which  it  stands  is  level, 
and  the  soil  very  fine,  the  country  in  its  vicinity 
abounding  with  the  most  romantic  views,  charm- 
ingly diversified,  and  fine  streams  of  water  falling 
in  beautiful  cascades  from  the  mountains.  The 
river  at  this  place  is  about  twenty  rods  in  width, 
and,  in  its  deepest  part,  from  nine  to  twelve  feet. 
This  village  is  the  extreme  point  of  navigation,  as 
immediately  beyond,  the  river  becomes  much  more 
shallow*  and  is  broken  into  fallaand  rapids.  The 
houses  here  are  placed  in  a  line  like  those  at  Noot- 
ka.  bat  closer  together^  the  situation  being  more 
confined,  they  are  also  smaller,  in  consequence  of 
which,  we  were  much  crowded,  and  incommoded 
for  room. .  -  . 

The  principal  object  in  comiiig  to  this  place,  is 
the  facility  it  affords  these  people  of  providing  their 
winter  stock  of  provisions,  which  consists  princi« 
pally  of  salmon,  and  the  spawn  of  that  fish;  to 
which  may  be  added  herrings  and  sprats,  and  herring 
spawn.  The  latter,  however,  is  always  procured 
by  them  at  Nootka,  previous  to  their  quitting  it. 
At  the  seasons  of  spawning,  which  are  early  in  t 

,■■  IV"     :''''-■     K  3  .  :  :  - 


:l? 


'II 


(C    '■> 


r'^ 


i 


'  ■  ■  -1 

''    ' ' ' 

! 

■!  f.;:.i 

' :  m 

I  <;-;i  ^ 

U'i 

:        J  J 

roe 


N  i'is. 


•pring  and  the  last  of  August,  they  collect  d  great 
quantity  of  piue  branches,  which  they  p!ace  in  dif* 
fereot  parts  of  the  Cove  at  the  depth  of  about  ten  • 
feet,  aad  secure  them  by  meant  of  heavy  itones. 
On  these  the  herring  deposit  their  spawn  in  im- 
mense quantities  ;  the  bushes  are  then  taken  up, 
the  spawn  stripped  from  the  branches,  and  after 
being  washed  and  freed  from  the  pine  leaves  by  the 
women,  is  dried  and  put  up  in  baskets  fof  use.     It 
is  considered  as  their  greatest  delicacy,  and  eaten 
both  cooked  and  raw  :  in  the  former  case,  being 
boiled  aid  p  :en  with  train  oil,  and  in  the  latter, 
mixed  up  with  colJ  water  alone. 


m^ 


m 


ii»i 


.1? 


The  salmon  are  tal'en  at  Tasiiees,  principaHy  in 
poti}  or  wears.     Their  method  of  taking  them  in 
wears  is  thus  : — A   pot  of  twenty  feet  in  length, 
and  from  four  to  five  feet  diameter  at  the  mouth,  is 
formed  of  a  great  number  of  pine  tfplinters  which 
are  strongly  secured,  an  inch  and  a  half  from  each 
other,  by.  means  of  hoops  made  of  flexible  twigs, 
and  placed  abought  e:ght  inches  apart.     At  the  end 
it  tapers  almost  to  a  point,  near  which  i^  a  small 
wicker  door,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  out  the  fish. 
This  pot  or  wear  is   placed  at  the  foot  of  a  fall  or 
rapid,  where  the  water  is  not  very  deep,  and  the 
fish  driven  from  above  with  long  poles,  are  intercep- 
ted and  taught  in  the  wear,  from  whence  they  are 
taken  into  the  canoes.     In  this  manner  I  have  seen 
more  than  seven  hundred  salmon  caught  in  tBe 


■rw 


107  ;. 

gpt^ce^of  fifleeir  Minutes.     1  litlve  also  Sometimes' 
koowa.a  few  of  the  striped  bass  taken  io  this  luao'' 

ner,  but  rarely. 

-  .   ^. '  ^.     '    ■  .  ',  ^  -..  ■  :    .     , 

i    '<   ^  ■     ;      .,'.,■■..  . 

^  .     '.  ■■  ■  -         •  '        • 

At  such  times  tliefe  is  great  feasting  ancT  merriment 
among  them.     The  women  and  female  slaves  being 
bnsily  employed  in  cooking,  or  in  caring  the  fish  for 
iheir  winter  stock,  which  is  done  by  catting  off  the 
heads  and  tails  splitting  thiem,  taking  out  the  back 
bone,  and  hanging  them  up  in  their  houses  to  dry. 
They  also  dry   the  halibut  and  cod,  but  these  in- 
stead of  curing  whole,    they  cut    up  into  sma41 
pieces  for  that  purpose,  and  e:tp08e  to  the   sun. 
The  spawn  of  the  salmon,  which  is  a  principal 
articleof  their  provision,  they  take  out,  and  with- 
out any  other  preparation,  throw  it  into  their  tubs, 
ttrhere  they  leave  it  to  stand   and  ferment^   for 
though  they  frequently  eat  it  fresh,  they  estfeem  it 
fUtfch  more  when  it  hcts  ac(]fuired  a  strong  taste,  and 
one  of  the  greatest  favours  they  carr  confer  on  any 
person,  is  to  invite  him  to    eat  Quakamiss^  the 
name  they  give   this  food,  though  scarcely  any 
thing  cafi  be  miote  repugnant  to  atr  European  folate, 
than  it  is  in  this  state;  and  whenever  they  took  it 
out  of  these    large  receptacles,    which  they  are 
alv^ays  careful  to  fill,  sUch  was  the  stench  Which  it 
exhaled,  on  being  moved,  that  it  was  almost  impos- 
sible for  me  to  abide  it,  even  after  ha^it,  had  in  a 
great  degree  dulled  the  delicacy  of  my  senses.-^ 
When;  boiled  it  became  less' offensive,  though' it 


.VVtl 


! 


1 


1.              i 

, '               ■■ 

■,l 

'   '           : 

IS 


I 


!     1      . 


U 


ht 


108 

Mill  retained  much  of  the  putrid  imell  and  some' 
tbiug  of  the  taste. 


T  . 


Such  is  the  immense  quantity  of  these  6sh,  and 
they  are  taken  \iith  such  facility,  that  1  have 
known  upwards  of  twenty*five  hundred  t)rought  into 
]!iilaquma*s  house  at  ouce,  and  at  one  of  their  great 
feasts,  have  seen  one  hundred  or  more  cooked  in 
one  of  their  largest  tubs.  / 

T  used  frequently  to  go  out  with  Maquina  upon 
these  fishios:  parties,  and  was  always  sure  to  re- 
ceive a  handsome  present  of  salmon,  which  I  had 
the  privilege  of  calling  mine;  I  also  went  with  him 
several  times  in  a  canoe,  to  strike  the  salmoa, 
which  I  have  attempted  to  do  myself,  but  could 
never  succeed,  it  requiring  a  degree  of  adroitness 
that  1  did  not  possess.  1  was  also  permitted  to  gp 
out  with  a  gun,  and  was  several  times  very  suc- 
cessful in  shooting  wild  ducks  aud  teal,  which  are 
very  numerous  here,  though  rather  shy.  These 
they  cooked  in  their  usual  manner,  by  boiling, 
without  any  farther  dressing  than  skinning  the*^. 


■  i- 


In  many  respects,  however,  our  situation  was 
less  pleasant  here  than  at  Nootka.  We  w^ere 
more  incommoded  for  room,  the  houses  not  being 
so  spacious,  nor  so  well  arranged,  and  as  it  was 
colder,  we  were  compelled  to  be  much  more  within 
doors.     Wcf  however,  did  not  neglect  on  Sundays, 

■     '   '         '      '■         '   ■  ■■■\  - 


109 

when  the  weather  would  admit)  to  retire  into  the 
woods,  and  by  the  side  of  some  stream,  after  bath- 
ing, return  oar  thanks  to  God  for  preserving  us, 
and  offer  up  to  him  our  customary  devotions.       - 

'■>*"'  '  '         ■       "  "'  ■    •     ■ 

I  was,  however,  very  apprehensive,  soon  after 
our  arrival  at  this  place,  that  1  should  be  deprived 
of  the  satisfaction  of  keeping  my  journal,  as  Ma* 
quina  one  day  observing  ma  writing  inquired  of 
me  what  I  was  doing,  and  when  I  endeavoured 
to  explain  it,  by  Killing  him  that  I  was  keeping  aa 
account  of  the  weather,  he  said  it  was  not  so,  and  ^ 
that  I  wa3  speaking  bad  about  him,  and  telling 
how  he  had  taken  our  ship  ami  killed  the  crew>  SQ 
as  io  inform  my  countrymen,  and  that  if  he  ever 
saw  me  writing  in  it  again,  he  would  throw  it 
into  the  fire.  I  was  much  rejoiced  that  he  did 
no  more  than  threaten,  and  became  very  caatioat 
afterwards  not  to  let  him  see  me  write.  < 


■■i.- 


I  Not  long  after  I  finished  some  daggers  for  him> 
which  I  polished  highly ;  these  pleased  him  macb, 
add  be  gave  me  directions  to  make  a  cheetoolth,  id 
which  I  succeeded  so  far  to  hit  satisfaction,  that  he 
gave  me  a  present  of  cloth  sufficient  to  make  me  a 
complete  suit  of  raiment,  besides  other  things. 
Thompson,  also,  who  had  become  rather  more  of  a 
favourite  than  formerly,  since  ire  had  made  a  fine 
sail  for  his  canoe,  and  some  garments  for  him  out 
of  European  cloth,  about  thi«  time  completed  an- 


-ti 


mM 


15- 


"J 


I 


110 

other,  which  was  thought  by  the  savages  a  most 
superb  dress.  This  was  a  Kootsuk  or  mantle,  a 
fathom  square,  made  entirely  of  j^uropean  vest 
patterns  of  the  gayest  colours.  Ihese  were  sewed 
together,  in  a  manner  to  make  the  best  show,  and 
bound  with  a  deep  trimming  of  the  finest  otter- 
skin,  with  which  th^  arm-holes  were  also  bordered ; 
while  the  bottom  was  farther  embellished  with  flive^ 
or  six  rows  of  gilt  buttons,  placed  as  near  as  possi* 
ble  to  each  other.  Nothing  could  exceed  the  pride 
of  Maquina  when  he  first  put  tfn  this  royal  robe^ 
decorated  like  the  coat  of  Joseph,^  with  all  the 
colours  of  the  rainbow,  and  glittering  with  the 
butioast  which  as  he  strutted  about  made  a  tink- 
ling, while  he  repeatedly  exclaimed,  in  a  transport 
•f  exultation,  Klew  shish  Katsuk — wick  kum  aiack 
Nootka»     A  fine  garment-^^Nootka  can't  make 

them*  ?■■*/,     ',-uv    .,'y-'       -:'■'. 


¥i.  .1 


iViaquina,  whi  knew  that  the  chiefs  of  the  tribea 
who  came  to  visit  as,  had  endeavoured  to  per- 
suade me  to  escape,  frequently  cautioned  me  not 
to  listen  to  them,  saying  that  should  L  make  the 
attempt,  and  he  were  to  take  me^  he  should  cer- 
tainly put  me  to  deaths  While  here  he  gave  me  a 
book  in  which  I  found  the  names  of  seven  persons 
belonging  to  the  ship  Manchester,  of  Philadelphia, 
Captain  Brian,  viz. — Daniel  Smith,  Lewis  Gillon, 
James  Tom,  Clark,  Johnson,  Ben  and  Jack  These 
iueu^  as  Maquina  informed  me,  rao  away  from  the 


4^  ; 
m 


Ill 

ahip,  and  came  to  him,  but  that  six  of  them  soon 
after  went  off  in  the  night,  with  an  intention  to  ^^o 
to  the  Wickinninish,  bat  were  stopped  by  tlie  £»h- 
quiates,  and  sent  back  to  him,  and  that  he  ordered 
them  to  be  put  to  death ;  and  a  most  cruel  death 
it  was,  as  I  was  told  by  one  of  the  natives,  four 
men  holding  one  of  them  on  the  ground,  and  forcing 
open  his  mouth,  whi^e  they  choaked  him  by  ram- 
ming stones  down  his  throat.  ,>.> 

'- '  f 

'  '  i        -  ■  '         k  Wl  -      ■         '   > 

As  to  Jack,  the  boy,  who  made  no  attempt  to  go 

off,  Maquina  afterwards  sold  him  to  the  Wickin-* 

ninish.     I  was  informed  by  the  princess  YuqiiUy 

that  he  was  quite  a  small  boy,  who  cried  a  great 

deal,  being  put  to  hard  labour  beyond  his  strength 

by  the  natives,  in  cutting  wood  and  bringing  water, 

and  that  when  he  heard  of  the  murder  of  our  crew, 

it  had  such  an  effect  on  him,  that  he  fell  sick  and 

died  shortly  after.     On  learning  the  melancholy 

fate  of  this  unfortunate  lad,  it  againav/akened  in  iny 

bosom  those  feelings  that  I  had  experienced  at  the 

shocking  death  of  my  poor  comrades.       ^^  r 

The  king,  finding  that  I  was  desirous  of  learning 
their  language,  was  much  delighted,  and  took 
great  pleasure  in  converging  with  mev  On  one  of 
these  occasions,  he  explained  to  me  his  reasons  for 
cutting  off  our  ship,  saying  that  he  bore  no  ill  will 
to  my  countrymen,  but  that  he  had  been  several 
times  treated  very  ill  by  them.    The  first  injury  of 


.■^ 


\\ 


■1, 
i' 

1 

'              1 

■i  m. 


m 


II 


f 


','1 
1 1    'it 


I 


% 


•  .  t 
ifc'  I 

'i  i 


ti 


I 
I 


f. 


i!.: 


H  ■ 

1 


1^ 

1 


Mi- 


112 

which  he  had  cause  to  complain,  was  done  him  hy 
H  Captain  Tawuiogton,  who  commanded  a  schooner 
which  passed  a  winter  at  Friendly  Cove,  where  he 
'as  well  treated  hy  the  inhabitants.  This  man 
taking  advantage  of  Maquina^s  absence^  who  had 
gone  to  the  Wickinninish  to  procure  a  wife,  armed 
himself  and  crew,  and  entered  tht)  house  where  there 
were  none  but  women,  whom  he  threw  into  the 
greatest  consternation,  and  searching  the  chests, 
took  away  all  the  skins,  of  which  Maquina  had 
no  less  than  forty  of  the  best;  and  that  about  the 
-same  time,  four  of  their  chiefs  were  barbarously 
•  killed  by  a  Captain  Martinez,  a  Spaniard. 

That  soon  after  Captain  Hanna,  of  the  Sea-Otter 
in  consequence  of  one  of  the  natives  having  stolen  a 
chisel  from  the  carpenter,  fired  upon  their  canoes 
w^hich  were  along  side,  and  killed  upwards  of 
twenty  of  the  natives,  of  whom  several  were  Ti/ecs 
or  chiefs,  and  that  be  himself  being  on  board  the 
vessel,  in  order  to  escape  was  obliged  to  leap  from 
.  the  qnailer  deck,  and  swim  for  a  long  way  under 
water. 

j^  :'  These  injuries  had  excited  in  the  breast  of  Ma- 
quina, an  ardent  desire  of  revenge,  the  strongest 
passion  of  the  savage  heart,  and  though  many 
years  had  elapsed  since  their  commission,  still  they 
were  not  forgotten,  and  the  want  of  a  favourable 
opportunity  alone  prevented  4iim  from  sooner  aveng- 

..     -  '    ■    "-  ■,:■"■'■"''        ■>■    .  ' 


113 


iug  tliem.  liDfortuDately  for  as,  the  long  wished 
for  opportuuity  at  length  presented  itself  in  our  ship, 
which  Maquina  findiog  not  guarded  with  the  usual 
vigilance  of  the  North  West  Traders,  and  feeling 
his  desire  of  revenge  rekindled  by  the  insult  offered 
him  by  Captain  Salter,  formed  a  plan  for  attack- 
ing, and  on  his  return,  called  a  council  of  his  chiefs, 
and  communicated  it  to  them,  acquainting  them 
with  the  manner  in  which  he  had  been  treated. 
No  less  desirous  of  avenging  this  affront  offered 
their  king,  than  their  former  injuries,  they  readily 
agreed  to  his  proposal^  whicTi  was  to  go  on  board 
without  arms  as  usual,  but  under  different  pretexts, 
in  great  numbers,  and  wait  for  his  signal  for  the 
moment  of  attacking  their  unsuspecting  victims. 
The  execution  of  this  scheme,  as  the  reader  knows^ 
was  unhappily  too  successful. 


And  here  I  cannot  but  indulj;e  a  reflection  that 
has  frequently  occurred  to  me  on  the  manner  in 
which  our  people  behave  towards  the  natives.  For 
though  they  are  a  theivish  race,  yet  I  have 
Qo  doubt  that  many  of  the  melancholy  disasters 
have  principally  arisen  from  th^  imprudent  conduct 
of  some  of  the  captains  and  crews  of  the  ships  em- 
ployed in  this  trade,  in  exasperating  them  by  in- 
suiting,  plundering,  and  even  killing  them  oa 
slight  grounds.  This,  as  nothing  is  ihore  ssicred 
with  a  savage  than  the  principle  of  revenge,  and  no 


h 


h 


':* 


#■  •  VK»  kVt* 


'   i 


Ill 


'. 


■1     i 

v' 


hKI 

^       ■    ■'.         ■ 

^wH 

:     *  • 

lift  \ 

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USi 

'    '  :'•  \ 

K' 

■   ;  \  ■-  • 

p«' 

. 

'V;^ 

'  %'• 

1^' 

'  ■    ■     '?■ 

^\ 

i.  'i  -- 

Mfl', 

'         '    .;  "  , 

RRi '. 

kK|  ' 

J             "   ,., 

Rffl  '■ 

mn' ' 

IB  ' 

i      '    '  ■ 

^m 

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\L 

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I 

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,    4 

-^  t  ■■  " " , 

r:i    !  . 

\  )    _        ': 

'   •    1  > 

1         :        ' 

B'k 

'  '.     "     i'  ' 

ui 

»'l        ■:        '■]: 

1 

W; 

iiiiyi 

people  arc  so  iinpationt  under  insult,  iuduces  them 
to  wreek  their  vengeance  upon  the  first  vessel  or 
boat':)  (rew  that  offers,  makin|^  the  innocent  too 
frequently  suffer  for  the  wrongs  of  the  guilty,  as  few 
of  them  know  how  \o  discrimiuate  between  persons 
of  the  same  general  appearance,  more  especially 
when  speaking  the  same  language.  Aa^^  to  this 
cause  do  I  believe,  must  principally  be  ascnbed  the 
^nguinary  disposition  with  which  these  people  are 
reproached,  as  Maguina  repeatedly  told  me  that  it 
was  not  his  wish  to  hurt  a  white  man,  and  that  he 
never  should  have  done  it,  though  ever  so  much  in 
bis  power,  had  they  not  injured  him. 

And  were  the  commanders  of  our  .ships  to  treat 
the  savages  with  rather  more  civility  than  they 
sometimes  do,  I  am  inclined  to  think  they  would 
find  their  account  in  it ;  not  that  I  shoold  recom- 
mend to  them  a  confidence  in  the  good  faith  and 
friendly  professions  of  tliese  people,  so  as  in  any 
degree  to  remit  their  vigilance,  bat  on  the  contrary, 
io  be  strictly  on  their  guard,  and  suffer  but  a  very 
few  of'  them  to  cpme  on  board  the  ship.,  and  admit 
not  many  of  their  canoes  along  side  at  a  4ime ;  a 
precaution  that  would  have  been  the  means  of  pre- 
venting some  of  the  unfortunate  events  that  have 
occurred,  and  if  attended  to,  may  in  future,  pre- 
'  serve  many  a  valuable  life*  Such  a  regulation  too, 
from  what  I  know  of  their  disposition  an4  wants^ 
would  produce  no  ledoai  difficulty  in  trading  with 


115 

the  savage^)  aud  lliey  would  looo  become  perfectly 
KGoncilccI  to  it. 

Among  the  proviiioDi  which  the  Indianf  procure 

at  Tasheet,  I  must  not  omit  mentionlog  a  fruit  that 

11  very  importaot,  as  forming  a  great  article  of  their 

food.     This  is  what  is  called  by  them  the  Yama^  a 

•pecies  of  berry  that  grows  in  bunches  like  currants, 

upon  a  busli  from  two'  to  three  feet  high,  with  a 

large,  round  and  smooth  leaf.    This  berry  is  black 

and  about  the  size  of  a  pistol  shot,  but  of  rather  an 

oblong  shape,  and  open   at  the  top  like  the  blue 

Whortle  berry.     The  taste  is  sweet,  but  a  little 

acrid,  and  when  first  gathered,  if  eaten  in  any  great 

quantity,  especially  without  oil,  is  apt  to  produce 

cholics.     To  procure  it,  large  companies  of  women 

go  out  on  the  mountains,  accompanied  by  armed 

men,  to  protect  them  against  wild  beasts,  where 

they  frequently  remain  for  several  days,  kindling  a 

fire  at  night,  and  sheltering  themselves  under  sheds 

cocltructed  of    boughs.      At  these  parties,  they 

collect  great  quantities.     I  have  known  Maquina^s 

queen  and  her  women  return  loaded,  bringing  with 

them  upwards  of  twelve  bushels.     In  order  to  pre* 

serve  it,  it  is  pressed  in  the  bunches  between  two 

planks,  and  dried  and  put  away  in  baskets  for  use. 

It  is  always  eaten  with  oil. 

Of  berries  of  various  kiads,  such  as  straw  ber^ 
ries,  raspberries,  black  berries,  &c.  there  are  great 

L  2 


1 '   i 


1 


'  t  i 


.i: 


'I 


,:>-  J 


r  1    ' 
■|'l   ^ 


;i 


116 

iIuaDiities  in  the  country,  of  which  fhe  natives  are 
very  fond,  gathering  them  in  their  seasons  and  eat- 
ing them  with  oil,  but  the  yama  is  the  only  one 
ihat  they  preserve. 


*?!:--; 


=  r* 


l!*^ 


Fish  is,  however,  their  great  article  of  food,  aa 
almost  all  the  others,  excepting  the  yama,  may  be 
considered  as  accidental.  They  nevertheless  are 
far  from  disrelishing  meat,  for  instance,  venii^on 
and  bear*8  flesh.  With  regard  to  the  latter,  they 
have  a  most  singular  custom,  which  is,  that  any 
one  who  eats  of  it  is  obliged  to  abstain  from  eating 
any  kind  of  flesh  iish  whatever,  for  the  term  of 
tv\o  months,  as  they  have  a  superstitious  be!ief, 
that  should  any  of  their  people  after  tasting  beards 
flesh,  eat  of  fresh  salmon,  cod,  &c«  the  iieh, 
though  at  ever  so  great  a  distance  off,  would  come 
to  the  knowledge  of  it,  and  be  so  much  offeod(*d 
thereat,  as  not  to  allow  themselves  to  be  taken  by 
any  of  the  inhabitants.  This  I  bad  an  opportunity 
of  observing  while  at  Ta^/hees,  a  bear  having  been 
killed  early  in  December,  of  which  not  more  than 
ten  of  the  natives  would  eat,  being  prevented  by 
the  prohibition  annexed  to  it,  which  also  was  the 
reason  of  my  comrade  and  myself  not  tasting  it, 
on  being  told  by  Maqaina  the  consequences. 


M' 


As  there  is  something  quite  curious  in  their  ma- 
nagement of  this  animal,  when  they  have  killed 

one,  1  simll  give  a  description  of  it.    Aft^r  well 

"...  ,  -      f 


*v 


117 


cleansiag  the  iMar  from  the  dirt  and  blood,  with 
which  it  is  generally  covered  wlieii  killed,  it  is 
brought  in  and  seated  opposite  the  king  in  an 
upright  posture,  with  a  chiefs  bonnet,  wrought 
in  figures  on  its  head,  and  its  for  powdered  over 
with  the  white  down.  A  tray  of  provision  is 
then  set  before  it»  and  it  is  invited  by  words  aod 
gestures  to  eat.  This  naock  c^emony  over,  the 
reason  of  which  1  could  never  learn,  the  animal  i» 
taken  and  skinned,  and  the  flesh  and  entrails  boiled 
up  into  a  soup,  no  part,  but  the  paunch  being  re- 
jected* >^      ' 

'  ■■:'  '-  ''"*     ■  .  '     ^  .     ■■  '  V 

'- '-  "  'i :'-         \    ■ 

This  dressing  the  bear,  as  they  call  it,  is  an  oc* 
casion  of  great  rejoicing  throughout  the  village,  all 
the  inhabitants  being  invited  to  a  great  feast  at  the 
king*s  house,  though  but  few  of  themy  inconse- 
quence of  the  penalty,  will  venture  to  eat  of  the 
fieshy^  hfki  generally  content  themselves  with  their 
favourite  dish  of  herring  spawn  and  water.  The 
feast  on  this  occasion  was  closed  by  a  dance  from 
Sat'Sat'Sak'siiiy  in  the. manner  I  have  already  de- 
scribed, in  the  course  of  which  he  repeatedly  shifted 
Us  mask  for  another  of  a  different  form. 

I 

A' few  days  after  a  second  bear  was  taken,  like 
the  former  by  means  of  a  trap.    This  i^had  the  cu- 
riosity to  go  and  see  at  the  place  where  it  wan 
caught,  which  was  in  the  following  manner.     On. 
the  edge  of  a  smajl  stream  of  ws^er^in  the  ou)N»>i' 


i; 


'(   ! 


(  c 


; 

^:';i;l 

i 

1  ■■ 

■ , ... ' ' 

i  ■' 

'  f  ■■  I 

' 

M 


vt 


118 

fains,  which  the  salmon  ascend,  and  near  the  spol 
where  the  bear  is  accustomed  to  watch  for  them, 
which  is  known  by  its  track,  a  trap  or  box  about 
the  height  of  a  man^s  head  is  built  of  posts  and 
planks  with  a  fiat  top,  on  which  are  laid  a  number 
of  large  stones  or  rocks.  The  top  and  sides  are 
then  carefully  covered  with  turf,  so  as  to  resemble 
a  little  mound,  and  wholly  to  exclude  the  light,  a 
narrow  entrance  of  theheightof  the buiUing  only 
being  left,  just  sufficient  to  admit  the  head  and 
shoulders  of  the  beast.  On  the  inside,  to  a  large 
plank  that  covers  the  top,  is  suspended  by  a  strong 
cord  a  salmon,  the  plank  being  left  loose  so  that  a 
forcible  pull  will  bring  it  down.  On  coming  to  its 
usual  haunt,  the  bear  enters  the  trap,  an  J  in  en- 
deavouring to  pull  away  the  fish,  brings  down  the 
whole  covering  with  its  load  of  stones  upon  its 
head,  and  is  almost  always  crushed  to  death  on  the 
spot,  or  so  wounded  a»  to  be  osable  to  escape. 


^.  u  - 


li  ■':.• 


They  are  always  careful  to  exsimine  these  traps 
every  day,  in  order  if  a  bear  be  caught,  to  bring  it 
immediately,  for  it  is  not  a  little  singular,  that 
these  people  will  eat  no  kind  of  meat  that  is  in  the 
least  tainted,  or  not  perfectly  fresh,  while,  on  the 
contrary,  it  is  hardly  possible  for  fish  to  be  in  too 
putrid  a  state  for  them,  and  I  have  frequently 
known  them  when  a  whale  has  been  driven  ashore, 
briog  pieces  of  it  home  with  them,  in  a  state  of 
•ffensiveaess  iasppportable  to  any  thine  but  a  crow. 


(    i; 


119 

and  devour  it  with  high  relish,  consideriog  it  as  pre- 
ferable to  that  wliich  is  freglu         .iJiu^  Jl  ;  ,.^nrf 

r    Oo  the  moraiDg  of  the  1 3ih  of  December,  com- 
menced what  to  U8  appeared  a  most  siogular  farce. 
Apparently  without  any  previous  notice,  Maquina 
discharged  a  pistol  olose  to  his  son^s  ear,  who  im- 
mediately feU  down  as  if  kilLed,  upon  which  all  the 
women  of  the  house  set  up  a  most  lamentable  cry, 
tearing  haudfuls  .of  hair  from  their  heads,  and  ex- 
claiming that  the  priqce  was  dead,  at  the  same 
tim<  a  gjreat  ^umher  of  the  inhabitants,  rushed  in ta 
the.  house  artoied  with  their  daggers,  muskets,  &c. 
enquiring  the  ^ause  of  their  outcry,  these  were  im- 
mediately: followed  by  two  othera  dressed  in  wolf 
skint,  with  nsasks  over  their  faces  representing  the 
head  of  that  anim^J;  the  latter  came  in  on  their 
hands  and,  f^et  in  the  manner  of  a  beast,  and  taking 
up  the  prince  carried  him  off  upon  their  backs,  re- 
tiring m  the  same  manner  they  entered.     We  saw 
nothing  more  of  the  ceremony,  as  Maquina  came 
to  us,  and  giving  us  a  quantity  of  dried  provision, 
ordered  us  to  quit  the  house  and  not  return  to  the 
village  before  the  expiration  of  seven  days,    for 
that  if  we  appeared  within  that  period,  he  should 
kill  us. 


1    »     J  r> 


-^  At  any  other  season  of  the  year  such  an  order 
would  by  us  have  been  considered  as  an  indul- 
gence, in  enabling  us  to  pass  our  time  in  whajtever 


?■',!: 


-■  M 


i:-.-^ 


J 


.  .n 


(■■( 


f,  .  '•■ 


f  ■ 


120 

way  we  wished,  and  evea  now,  famished  as  we 
were,  with  sufficient  provision  for  that  term,  it  was 
not  very  unpleasant  to  us,  more  particularly 
/I'hompson,  who  was  always  desirous  to  keep  as 
much  as  possible  out  of  the  society  and  sight  of  the 
natives,  whom  he  detested.  Taking  with  us  our 
provisions,  a  bundle  of  clothes,  and  oar  axes,  we 
obeyed  the  directions  of  Maquina,  and  withdrew 
into  the  woods,  where  we  built  ourselves  a  cabin 
to  shelter  us,  with  the  branches  of  trees,  and  keep- 
ing up  a  good  fire,  secured  ourselves  pretty  well 
from  the  cold.  Here 'We  passed  the  prescribed  pe- 
riod of  our  exile,  with  more  content  than  much  of 
the. time  while  with  them,  employing  the  day  in 
reading  and  praying  for  our  release,  of  in  rambling 
around  aqd  {Exploring  the  country,  the  soil  of  which  ' 
we  found  to  be  very  good,  and  the  face  of  it,  beau- 
tifully diversified  with  hills  and  vallies,  refreshed 
with  the  finest  streams  of  water,  and  at  night  en- 
joyed comfortable  repose  upon  a  bed  of  soft  leaves, 
with  our  garments  spread  over  u^  to.protect  us  from 
the  cold.  ■ 


i«< 


/.I         'it-! 


'f^'.     -Ai 


^^  At  the  end  of  seven  days  we  returnedvand  found 
several  of  the  people  of  A'^i-tiz-zart  with- their  king 
or  chief  at  Tashees,  who  had  been  invited  by  Ma- 
quina to  attend  the  close  of  this  performance,  which 
1  now  learnt  was  a  eelebra-tioa,  held  by  them  an- 
nually, in  honour  of  their  god,  whom  they  call 
Q'^ahootzs^  to  ret ura  him  their  thanks  fof  his  past, 


as  w« 
it  was 
ularly 
eep  as 

of  the 
IIS  our 
les,  we 
Ihdrew 
a  cabia 
i  keep- 
tty  well 
bed  pe- 
nuch  of 

day  in 
ambliDg 


121 

and  implore  his  future  favors.  It  terminated  oa 
the  Slst,  the  day  after  our  return,  with  a  most  ex- 
traordinary exibilion.  Three  men,  each  of  whom 
had  two  bayonets  run  thro^gh  his  sides,  between 
jlhe  ribs,  apparently  regardless  of  the  pain,  traver- 
sed the  roomi  backwards  and  forwards,  singling 
war  songi,  and  exulting  in  this  display  of  firm- 

.  On  the  arrival  of  the  25th,  we  could  not  but  call 
to  mind,  that  this  being  Christmas,  was  in  our 
country  a  day  of  the  greftest  festivity,  when  our 
fellow  countrymen  assembled  in  their  churches, 
were  celebrating  the  goodness  of  God,  and  the 
praises  of  the  Saviour.  What  a  reverse  did  our 
situation  offer — captives  in  a  ravage  laud,  and 
slaves  to  a  set  of  ignorant  beings,  unacquainted  with 
religion  or  humanity,  hardly  Were  we  permitted  to 
offer  up  our  devotions.by  ourselves  in  the  woods, 
while  we  felt  even  grateful  for  this  privilege.  Thi- 
ther with  the  king's  permission,  we  withdrew,  and 
after  reading  the  service  appointed,  for  the  day, 
sung  the  hymn  of  the  Nativity,  fervently  praying 
that  heaven  in  its  gopdaess,  would  permit  us  to 
celebrate  the  next  festival  of  this  kind  in  some 
Christian  land.     ^^  .    ...4^*^  i4;v^<^^.  ^        -j.  .  ^ 


j  ii! 


w 


I'll 


Ml 


h  I 


On  our  return,  in  order  to  conform  as  much  as 
was  in  our  power  to  the  custom  of  our  country, 
we  were  desirous  of  having  a  better  snpper  than 


.  !i 


-:* 


•   __lJ! 


i 


h 


I 


1 1 


')" 


u 


% 


1 

'I  i 


! 


' 


i: 


1 1 


•It    I    'fil 


V 


lis 


122 

csnal.  With  this  view  we  bought  from  one  of  the 
natives,  0ome  dried  clams  and  oil,  and  a  root  eat- 
led  Kleisup^  which  we  cooked  by  steaming,  and 
found  It  very  palatable.  This  root  consists  of  many 
fibres,  of  a  bout  six  inches  long,  and  of  the  size  of 
»^  crow  quill.  It  is  sweet,  of  an  agreeable  tavte, 
not  unlike  the  Q{/£ziic(7^& J  and  it  is  eaten  with  oil. 
The  plant  that  produces  it  I  have  never  seen. 

On  the  31  st,  all  the  tribe  quitted  Tashees  for 
Cooptee,  wither  they  goto  pass  the  remainder  of 
the  winter,  and  complete  their  fishing,  taking  off 
every  thing  with  them  in  the  same  manner  as  at 
Nootka.  We  arrived  in  a  few  hours  at  Cooptee, 
which  is  about  fifteen  miles,  and  immediately  set 
about  covering  the  houses,  which  was  soon^  com- 
pleted^ < 

Xtiis  place,  which  is  their  great  herring  and  sprat 
fishery,  stands  just  within  the  mouth  of  the  river, 
on  the  same  side  with  Tashees,  in  a  very  narrow 
valley  at  the  foot  of  a  high  mountain.  Though 
nearly  as  secure,  as  Tashees  from  the  winter 
storms,  it  is  by  no  means  so  pleasantly  situated, 
though  to  us  it  was  a  much  more  agreeable  resi- 
dence, as  it  brought  us  nearer  Nootka,  where  we 
were  impatient  to  return,  in  hopes  of  finding  some 
vessel  (here,  or  hearing  of  the  arrival*  of  one 
nea^  ? 


■» 


123 

The  first  snow  that  fell  this  season,  was  the  day 
after  our  arrival,  on  New- Years ;  a  day  that  like 
Christmas,  brought  with  it,  paiuful  recollcctious, 
but  at  the  same  time  led  us  to  indulge  the  hope  of  a 
more  fortunate  year  than  the  last. 

Ekirly  on  the  morning  of  the  l\h  of  January, 
Maquina  took  me  with  him  in  his  canoe  on  a  visit 
to  Upquesta^  chief  of  the  A-i-tiz  zarts,  who  had 
invited  him  to  attend  an  exhibition  at  his  village, 
similar  to  the  one  with  which  he  had  been  enter- 
tained at  Tashees.  This  place  is  between  twenty 
and  thirty  miles  distant  up  the  sound,  and  stands 
on  the  banks  of  a  small  river  abojui,  the  size  of  that 
pf  Cooptee,  just  within  its  entrap^^,  in  a.vajley  of 
much  greater  extent  than  tliat  of  Tashee^ ;  it  con- 
sists of  fourteen  or  fifteen  houses,  built  and  dispos- 
ed in  the  manner  of  those  at  Nootka.  The  tribe, 
which  is  considered  as  tributary  to  Maquina, 
amounts  ^0  about  three  hundred  warriors,  and  the 
inhabitants,  both  men  and  women,  are  among 
the  best  looking  of  any  people  on  the  coast. 

On  our  arrival  we  were  received  at  the  shore  by 
the  inhftbitants,  a  few  of  whom  were  armed  with 
muskets,  which  they  fired,  with  loud  shouts  and 
exclamations  of  TFocash,  wocash.  .   f  . 

We  were  welcomed  by  tbe  chief^s  messenger,  or 
master  of  ceremonies,  dressed  in  his  best  garments^ 


,.     i',      i 


11 


!■ 


I 

'  X 

'   ■  ■^» 

''ll 

'  :    ^n 

■        ;    ■!  H 

'11 

.iJJJiJ^W 

§ 


€ 


a 


i*' 


124 

^ith  his  hair  powdered  with  white  doWd,  and  hold- 
ing in  his  hand  the  cheetooith,  the  baoge  of  his 
office.  This  man  preceded  as  to  the  chiefs  hoase^ 
uhere  he  introduced  and  pointed  out  to  us  our  re- 
spective seats.  On  entering,  the  visitors  took  of 
their  hats,  which  they  always  weai  on  similar  oc- 
casions, and  Maquina  his  outer  robes,  of  which  he 
has  several  on  whenever  he  pays  a  visit,  and  seated 
himself  near  the  chief. 

^  As  I  was  dressed  in  European  clothes  I  became 
quite  an  object  of  curiosity  to  these  people,  very 
few  of  whom  had  ever  ssen  a  white  roan.  They 
crowded  around  me  in  numbers,  taking  hold  of  my 
clothes,  examining  my  face,  hands  and  feet,  and 
even  opening  my  mouth  to  see  if  I  had  a  tongue, 
for  notwithstanding  I  had  by  this  time  become  well 
acquainted  with  their  language,  I  preserved  the 
strictest  silence,  Maquina  on  our  first  laudiug 
having  enjoined  me  not  to  speak,  until  he  should 
direct.       .  ■       ,    ^    • 

Having  undergone  this  examination  for  some 
time,  Maquina  at  length  made  a  sign  to  me  to 
speak  to  them.  On  hearing  me  address  them  in 
their  own  language,  they  were  greatly  astonished 
and  delighted,  and  told  Maquina  that  they  nr  w 
perceived  that  I  was  a  man  like  themselves,  except 
that  I  was  white  and  looked  like  a  seal,  alluding  to 
my  blue  jacket  and  trowsers,  which  they  wanted 


125 

to  peraoade  me  to  take  off,  as  they  did  not  like 
their  appearance.  Maquina  ia  the  mean  time  gave 
an  account  to  the  chief>  of  the  scheme  he  had  form- 
ed for  sarprising  our  ship,  and  the  manner  io  which 
he  and  his  people  had  carried  it  into  execution, 
with  such  particular  and  horrid  details  of  that  tran- 
saction as  chilled  the  hlood  in  my  veins.  Trays  of 
boiled  herring  spawn  and  train  oil  were  soon  after 
brought  in  and  placed  before  as,  neither  the  chief 
or  any  of  his  people  eating  at  the  same  time,  it 
being  contrary  to  the  ideas  of  hospitality  enter- 
tained by  these  nations,  to  eat  any  part  of  the  food 
that  is  provided  for  strangers,  always  waiting  un- 
til their  visitors  have  finished,  before  they  have 
their  own  brought  ia. 


'    I 


M 

I 

I. 


'PI!! 


The  following  day  closed  their  festival  with  an 
exhibition  of  a  similar  kind,  to  that  which  had  been 
given  at  Tashees,  but  still  more  cruel;  the  diffe- 
rent tribes  appearing  on  these  occasions  to  endea- 
vour to  surpass  each  other  in  their  proofs  of  forti- 
tude and  endurance  of  pain.  In  the  morning  twenty 
men  entered  the  chief ^s  house,  with  each  an  arrow 
run  through  the  flesh  of  his  sides,  and  either  arm, 
with  a  cord  fastened  to  the  end,  which  as  the  per- 
formers advanced,  singing  and  boasting,  was  for- 
cibly drawn  back  by  a  person  having  boW  of  it. 
After  this  performance  was  closed,  we  returned  to 
Cooptee,  wbich  we  reached  at  midaightj  our  men 


'ii 


t»f; 


■I   .:'^.^*i    M 


;i 


126 

keeping  time  with  their  soogs  to  the  stroke  of  their 
paddief. 


t"    I, 'Hi 


•    t    . 


The  natives  now  began  to  take  the  herring 
and  sprat  in  immense  quantities,  with  some  salmon, 
and  there  was  nothing  hut  feasting  from  morning 
till  night. 


\:.r  , 


win  i^i 
I:  'i  I 


The  following  is  the  method  they  employ  to 
take  the  herring:     A   stick   of  about  seven  feet 
long,  two  inches  broad,  and  half  an  inch  thick,  is 
formed  from  some  hard  wood,  one  side  of  which  is 
set  with  sharp  teeth,  made  from  whale  bone,  at 
abcut  half  an   inch  apart.      Provided    with  this 
instrument,  the  fisherman  seats  himself  in  the  prow 
of  a  canoe,    which  is   paddled  by  another,   and 
whenever  he  comes  to  a  shoal  of  herrings,  which 
cover  the  water  in  greai  quantities,  he  strikes  it 
with  both  hands  upon  them,  and  at  the  same  mo- 
ment turning  it  np^  brings  it  over  the  side  of  the 
caooe,  into  which  he  lets  those  that  are  taken  drop. 
It  is  a^ionishing  to  see  how  many  are  caught  by 
those  who  are  dexterous  at  this  kind  of  fishing,  as 
they  seldom  fail  when  the  shaols  are  numerous,  of 
taking  as  many  as  ten  or  twelve  at  a  stroke,  and 
in  a  very  short  time  will  fill  a  canoe  with  them. 
Sprats  are  likewise  canght  in  a  similar  manner. 


About    the  beginning   of   February,    Maquina 
gave  a  great  feast,  at  which^were  preseat  not  only 


127  , 

ftll  the  inhabitants,  but  one  hundred  persons  from 
A-i-tiz-zart,    and   a  number   from   Wickinninisii, 
who  had  been  invited  to  attend  it.     It  is  customary 
with  them  to  give  an  annual  entertainment  of  this 
kind,  and  it  is  astonishing  to  see  what  a  quan**^ 
tity  of  provision   Is  expended,  or  rather  wasted 
on  such  an  occasion,  when  they  always  eat  to  the 
greatest  excess.     It  was  at  this  f^ast  that  I  saw 
upwards  of  an  hundred  salmon  cooked  in  one  tub. 
The  whole  residence  at  Cooptee  presents  an  almost 
uninterrapted  succession  of  feasting  and  gorman* 
dizing^  and  it  wouf  J  seem  as  if  the  principal  object 
of  these  people  was  to  consume  their  whole  stock 
of  provision  before  leaving  it,  trusting  entirely  to 
their  success  in  fishing  and  whaling,  for  a  supply 
at  Nootka..    ■'  ^?  'i^'  h  \  'v'; 

On  the  25th  of  February,  we  quitted  Cooptee, 
and  returned  to  Nootka.  With  much  joy  did 
Thompson  and  myself  again  find  ourselves  in  a 
place  where,  notwithstanding  the  melancholy  re* 
collections  which  it  excited,  we  hoped  before  long 
to  see  some  vessel  arrive  to  our  relief,  and  for  this 
we  became  the  more  solicitous,  as  of  late  we  had 
become  much  more  apprehensive  of  our  safety,  in 
consequence  of  ioformation  brought  Maquina  a 
few  days  before  we  left  Cooptee,  by  some  of  the 
Cayuquets,  that  there  were  twenty  ships  at  the 
northward,  preparing  to  come  against  him,  with 


Wf 


i  > 


Mi 


'     I 


!■! 


:t 


\ 


IH 


128 

an  intent  of  destroying  him  and  his  whole  tribe, 
for  cutting  off  the  Boston.,         t  .  ./ 


i;i: 


-» 


if 


I 


\: 


1 


4i 


r-«. 


A. 


'  This  story,  which  was  wholly  wlthoat  fouuda- 
ilon,  and  discovered  afterwards  to  have  been  in- 
vented by  these  people,  for  the  purpose  of  dis- 
quieting him,  threw  him  into  great  alarm,  and 
notwithstanding  all  I  could  say  to  convince  him 
that  it  was  an  unfounded  report,  so  great  was  his 
jealonsy  of  us,  especially  after  it  had  been  con- 
firmed to  him  by  some  others  of  the  same  nation, 
that  he  treated  us  with  much  Lurshness,  and  kept 
a  very  suspicious  eye  upon  us.  Nothing  indeed 
could  be  movf*  unpleasant  than  our  present  situa- 
tion, when  I  reflected  that  our  lives  were  altogether 
dependent  on  the  will  of  a  savage,  on  whose  ca* 
prlce  and  suspicions  no  rational  calculation  could 
be  made.         •■?.    ^•  ;,  ,:  ;  !•   ■:  ';   ., 


r. 


Not  loag  after  our  return,  a  son  of  Maquina's 
Bister,  a  boy  of  eleven  years  old,  who  had  been 
for  some  time  declining,  died.  Immediately  on 
his  death,  which  was  about  midnight,  aH  the  meu 
and  women  in  the  house  set  up  loud  cries  and 
shrieks,  which  awakening  Thompson  and  myself, 
so  disturbed  us  that  we  left  the  house.  This 
lamentation  was  kept  up  during  the  remainder  of 
the  night.  In  the  morning,  a  great  fire  was  kinilled, 
in  which  Maquina  burned  in  honour  of  the  deceased, 
ten  fathoms  of  cloth,  and  buried  with   him  tea 


I  l' 


129 

fdthoms  more,  eight  of  I-whaw,  four  prime  bsb.] 
otter  skins,  and  two  small  trunks,  containing  our 
unfortunate  captain^s  clolties  and  watch. 


•'  I 


•     V 


This  boy  was  considered  as  a  Tyee  or  chio> 
being  the  only  son  of  Tootooschy  one  of  their  prin- 
cipal chiel's,  who  had  married  Maquina's  sister, 
whence  arose  this  ceremony  on  his  interment ;  it 
being  an  established  custom  with  these  people, 
that  whenever  a  chief  dies,  his  most  valuable  pro- 
perty is  burned  or  buried  with  him;  it  is,  however, 
wholly  confined  to  the  chiefs,  and  appears  to  be  a 
mark  of  honour  appropriate  to  them.  In  this  in- 
stance Maquina  furnished  the  articles,  in  orier  that 
his  nephew  might  have  the  proper  honours  ren- 
dered him. 

•  .      - 

Tootooch,  his  father,  was  esteemed  the  first  war« 
rior  of  the  tribe,  and  wap  one  who  had  been  parti- 
cularly active  in  the  destruction  of  car  ship,  having 
killed  two  of  our  poor  comrades,  who  were  ashore, 
whose  names  were  Hall  and  Wood.  About  the 
time  of  our  removal  to  Tashees,  while  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  highest  health,  he  was  suddenly  seized 
with  a  fit  of  delirium,  in  which  he  fancied  that  he 
saw  the  ghosts  of  those  two  men  constantly  stand- 
ing by  him,  and  threatening  him,  so  that  he  would 
take  no  food,  except  what  was  forced  iuio  his 
mouth.  A  short  time  before  this  he  liad  lost  a 
d^^ughter  of   about  fifteen  years  of  age,   which 


: 


I' lis 


130 


-  M* 


afflicted  him  greatly,  and  whether  hi^  insauity,  a 
disorder  very  UQCommon  amoDgst  these  savages, 
DO  instance  of  the  kind  having  occurred  within  the 
memory  of  the  oldest  man  amongst  them,  proceeded 
from  this  caase,  or  that  it  was  the  special  interpo- 
sition of  an  all-merciful  God  in  our  favour,  who 
by  this  means  thought  proper  to  induce  these  bar^ 
barians  still  further  to  respect  our  lives,  of  that 
for  hidden  purposes,  the  Supreme  Disposer  of 
events  sometimes  permits  the  spirits  of  the  dead  to 
revisit  the  world,  and  haunt  the  murderer,  I  know 
not,  bat  his  mind  from  this  period,  unt^  his  death, 
which  took  place  but  a  few  weeks  after  that  of  his 
eon,  was  incessantly  occupied  with  the  images  of 
the  men  whom  he  had  killed. 

This  circpmstance  made  much  impreision  upon 
the  tribe,  particularly  the  chiefs,  whose  uniform 
opposition  to  putting  as  to  death,  at  the  various 
councils  that  were  held  on  our  account,  I  could 
not  but  in  part  attribute  to  this  cause,  and  Ma- 
quina  used  frequently  in  speaking  of  Tootoosch^s 
sickness,  io  express  much  satisfaction  that  his  hands 
had  not  been  stained  with  the  blood  of  any  of  our 


men. 


.''t 


.i  ^-  i^ 


i^' 


When  Maquina  was  first  informed  by  his  sister, 
of  the  strange  conduct  of  her  husband,  he  imme- 
diately went  to  his  house,  taking  us  with  him; 
suspecting  that  his  disease  had  been  cs^ased  by  us, 


131 


and  that  the  ghosts  of  our  countrymen  had  been 
called  thither  by  us,  to  torment  him.  We  found 
him  raving  about  Hall  and  Wood,  saying  that  they 
were  peshak^  that  is,  baiK  Maquina  their  placed 
some  provision  before  him,  to  see  if  he  would  eat. 
On  perceiving  H,  he  put  forth  his  hand  to  take 
Home,  bat  instantly  withdrew  it  with  signs  of 
horror,  saying  that  Hall  and  Wood  were  there, 
and  wonld  not  let  him  eat.  Maquina  then  pointing 
to  us,  asked  if  it  was  not  John  and  Thampsoa 
•  who  troubled  him.  fVik,  he  replied,  that  is,  no, 
■  John  kliishish — Thompson  klushish — John  and 
Thompson  are  both  good;  then  turning  in  me, 
and  patting  me  on  the  shoulder,  he  made  signs  to 
me  to  eat.  I  tried  to  persuade  him  that  Hall  and 
Wood  were  not  there,  and  that  none  were  near  him 
but  ourselves  :  he  said,  I  know  very  well  you  do 
not  see  them,  but  I  do.     ^  »        i     r 


;»...*?■ 


At  first  Maquina  endeavoured  to  convince  him 
that  he  saw  nothing,  and  to  laugh  him  out  of  his 
belief,  but  finding  that  all  was  to  no  purpose,  he 
at  length  became  seriods,  and  asked  me  if  I  had 
ever  seen  any  one  affected  in  this  manner,  and 
what  was  the  matter  with  him.  I  gave  Mm  to 
understand,  pointing  to  his  head,  that  his  braia 
was  injured,  and  that  he  did  not  see  things  as  for- 
merly. '"  ''"^ 


■  ij 


.-?«,! 


^  i 


lait- 


Being  conviaccd  by  Tootoosch's  conduct,  that 


f. 


,"r 


'  '     ! 


rl 


1 


m 


S     ;!,, 


w 


m 


i 


v., 


.  -'. 'i. 


11 


-  1 


132 

\ie  had  no  a<^ency  In  his  indispositioo,  on  our  re- 
turo  home,  Maquina  asked  me  what  was  done  in 
my  country  in  similar  eases.  I  told  him  that  such 
persons  were  closely  confined,  and  sometimes  tied 
up  and  whipped,  in  order  to  make  them  better. 
After  pondering  for  some  time,  he  said  that  he 
should  be  glad  to  do  any  thing  to  relieve  hini,  and- 
that  he  should  be  whipped,  and  immediately  gave 
orders  to  some  of  his  men  to  gu  to  Tootoosch^s 
house,  bind  him,  and  bring  him  to  his,  in  order 
to  undergo  the  operation.  Thompson  was  the  per- 
sou  selected  to  administer  this  remedy,  which  he 
undertook  very  readily,  and  for  that  purpose  pro- 
vided himself  with  a  good  number  of  spruce 
.branches,  with  which  he  whipped  him  most  severe- 
ly, laying  it  on  with  the  best  will  imaginable, 
while  Toptoosch  displayed  the  greatest  rage,  kick- 
ing, spitting,  and  attempting  to  bite  all  who  came 
near  him.  This  was  too  much  for  Maquina,  who, 
at  lengh,  unable  to  endure  it  longer,  ordered 
Thompson  to  desist,  an^  Tootoosch  to  be  carried 
.hack,  saying  that  if  there  was  no  other  way  of 
curing   him   but  by  whipping,    he  must   remain 


■•-■-' 

.....a 

ildt   jki 

•     --XT    ■*' 

V    - 

-.'          ^- 

■■      ''^   .-. 

'M ■^.  ■ 


.*■  /  SI 


'>?* 


;;^.The  application  of  the  whip  produced  no  bene- 
JBcial  e£fect  on  Tootoosch,  for  he  afterwards  be- 
fl^came  still  more  deranged ;  in  his  fits  of  fury  some- 
times seizing  a  club,  and  beating  his  slaves  in  a 
most  dreadful  manner,  and  striking  and  spitiiog 


138 

at  all  who  came  near  him,  till  at  length  his  wife 
DO  longer  daring  to  remain  in  the  house  with  him, 
came  with  her  son  to  Maquina's. 

The  whaling  season  n6w  commenced,  and  Ma- 
quina  was  out  almost  every  day  in  his  canoe,  in 
pursuit  of  them,  but  for  a  considerable  time,  with 
DO  success,  one  day  breaking  the  staff  of  his  har- 
poon, another,  after  having  been  a  long  time  fast 
to  a  whale,  the  weapon  drawing,  owing  to  the 
breakiti;;  of  the  shell,  which  formed  its  point,  with 
severa/i  such  like  ~  ccideats,  arising  from  the  imper- 
fection of  the  instrument.  At  these, times  he  always 
returned  very  morose  and  out  of  temper,  up- 
braiding his  men  with  having  violated  their  obliga- 
tion to  continence  preparatory  to  whaling.  In  this 
state  of  ill  humour  he  would  give  us  very  little  to 
eat,  which  added  to  the  v/omen  not  cooking  when 
the  men  are  away,  reduced  us  to  a  very  lovr 
fare,  •       • . 

I  —^        ,  ■  ■'  ■  f.\ '  -  ' 

r  -••.  >».",■     ^..,    •  -  .         ,  .  ,     ■•     '         \'     ■'-■ 

'    ;  .-. .  k  '•   »  -^  ,   ,"       ■.■'.■'•-  '  •''  /.     ,  ',       -■■.■■ 

■;'.'■-        J '    '   .  T  ■•»•,.■     -  ♦   ,. 

^  Id  consequence  of  the  repeated  occurrence  of 
similar  accidents,  I  proposed  to  Maquir,a  to  make 
him  a  harpoon  or  foreganger  of  steel,  which  would 
be  less  liable  to  fail  him.  The  idea  pleased  him, 
and  ia  a  short  time  I  completed  one  for  him,  with 
which  he  was  much  delighted,  and  the  very  next 
day  went  out  to  make  a  trial  of  it.  He  succeeded 
with  it  in  taking  a  whale.  Great  was  the  joy 
throughout  the  village,  as  soon  as  it  was.  known 


.'•»• 


i 


''in 


m: 


ii      - 

5'  > 


;■,     * 


:f 


i:.:i 


''i'  ■'  5 


J 


n 


r 


134 

that  the  king  bad  secared  the  whale,  by  notice  from 
a  persoD  slatipned  at  the  head-land  in  the  offi  ng. 
All  the  canoes  were  immediately  launched,  and, 
furnished  with  harpoons  and  seal-skin  floats,  has* 
tened  to  assist  in  buoying  it  up,  and  towing  it  in. 


The  bringing  in  of  this  fish  exhibited  a  scene  of 
universal  festivity.  As  soon  as  the  cauoes  appeared 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Cove,  those  on  board  of  them 
singing  a^  triumph  to  a  slow  air,  to  which  they  kept 
time  with  their  paddles,  all  who  were  on  shore, 
men,  women  and  children,  mounted  the  roofs  of 
their  houses,  to  congratulate  the  king  on  his  suc- 
cess, drumming  most  furiously  on  the  planks,  and 
exclaiming  Wocash — wocash  Tt/ee. 

The  whale  on  being  drawn  on  shore^  was  imme- 
diately cut  up,  and  a  great  feast  of  the  blubber 
given  at  Maquina's  house,  to  which  all  the  village 
were  invited,  who  indemnified  themselves  for  their 
lent,  by  eating  as  i\8ual  to  excess.  I  was  highly 
praised  for  the  goodness  of  r/iy  harpoon,  and  a 
quantity  of  blubber  given  me,  which  1  was  permit- 
ted to  cook  as  I  pleased,  this  1  boiied  in  salt  water 
with  some  young  nettles  and  other  greens  for 
Thompson  and  myst>lf,  and  in  thia  way  we  found  it 
tolerable  food.  .,    ,  ...   ^    -  -    -    , 


■•'n;,ni* 


i?4 


V 


iJi' 


Their  method  of  procuring  the  oil,  is  ;o  skim  it 
ft-om  the  water  in  which  the  blubber  is  boiled,  and 


# 


135 


when  cool,  put  it  up  into   whale  bladders  for  use, 
and  of  these  I  have  seen  them  so  large  as,  when 
filled,  would  require  no  less  than  five  or  six  men  to 
carry.     Several  of  the  chiefs,  among  whom  were 
Maquina^s  brothers,  who  after  the  king  has  caught 
the  first  whale,  are  privileged  to  take  them  also, 
were  very  desirous,  on  discovering  the  superiority 
of  my  harpoon,  that  I  should  make  some  for  them, 
but  this  Maquioa  would  not  permit,  reserving  for 
himself  this  improved  weapon.     He  however  gave 
me  directions  to  make  a  number  more  for  himself 
which  I    executed,   and  also  made   him   several 
lances,  with  which  he  was  greatly  pleased. '  < 


4 


.  i  1 


•t"  < 


As  these  people  have  some  very  singular  observ- 
ances preparatory  to  whaling,  an  account  of  them 
will,  I  presume,  not  prove  uninteresting,  especially 
as  it  may  serve  to  give  a  better  idea  of  their  manners. 
A  short  time  befcre  leaving  Tasbees,  the  king  makes 
a  point  of  passing  a  day  alone  on  the  mountain, 
whither  he  goes  very  privately  early  in  the  morning, 
and  does  not  return  till  late  in  the  evening.  This  is 
done,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  for  the  purpose  of 
singing  and  praying  to  his  God  for  success  in  whal- 
ing the  ensuing  season.  At  Cooptee  the  same  cere- 
mony is  performed,  and  at  Nootka  after  the  return 
thither,  with  still  greater  solemnity,  as  for  the  next 
two  days  he  appears  very  thoughtful  and  gloomy, 
scarcely  speaking  to  any  one,  and  observes  a  most 
rigid  fast.     On  these  occasions,  he  has  always  a 


lu,ii 


:) 


:»■; 


t  w. 


1 

f  .■ 

mi 

Wi 


I 


S  ; 


136 

broad  red  fillet  made  of  bark,  bound  around  his 
head,  in  token  of  hnmiliation,  with  a  large  branch 
of  green  spruce  on  the  top,  and  his  great  rattle  in 
his  hand.  In  addition  to  this,  for  a  week  before 
commencing  their  whaling,  both  himself  and  the 
crew  of  his  canoe  observe  a  fast,  eating  but  very 
little,  and  going  into  the  water  several  times  in  the 
course  of  each  day  tp  bathe,  singing  and  rubbing 
their  bodies,  limbs  and  faces  with  shells  and  bushes, 
80  that  on  their  returu  I  have  seen  them  look  as 
though  they  had  been  severely  torn  with  briers. 
They  are  likewise  obliged  toabstain  from  any  com- 
merce with  their  women  for  the  like  period,  the 
latter  restriction  being  considered  as  indispensible 
to  their  success.  .    -      .         .,,,„>. 

Early  in  June  Tootoosch,  the  crazy  chief,  died. 
On  being  acquainted  with  his  death  the  whole 
village,  men,  women  and  children,  set  up  a  loud 
cry,  with  every  testimony  of  the  greatest  grief, 
which  they  continued  for  more  than  three  houra. 
As  soon  as  he  was  dead,  the  body," according  to 
their  custom,  was  laid  out  on  a  plank,  having  the 
bead  bound  round  with  a  red  bark  fillet,  which  is 
with  them  an  emblem  of  mourning  and  sorrow. 
After  laying  some  time  in  this  manner,  he  was 
wrapped  in  an  otter  skin  robe,  and  three  fathoms 
of  I-whaw  being  put  al)out  his  neck,  he  was  placed 
in  a  large  coffin  or  box  of  about  three  feet  deep, 
which  was  ornamented  on  the  outside  with  two 


V 


m^[ 


lar 


raws  of  the  small  white  shells.  la  this,  the  most 
valuable  articles  of  his  property  were  placed  with 
hini,  among;  which  were  do  less  than  twenty-fonr 


t*-^' 


'*«" 


'■> 


i..l 


prime  sea  otter  skins. 

''^'^At  night,  which  is  their  time  for  interring  the 
dead,  the  coffin  was  borne  by  eight  men  with  twa 
poles,  thrust  through  ropes  passed  around  It,  to 
the  place  of  burial,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and 
family,  with  iheir  hair  cut  short,  in  token  of  grief^ 
all  the  inhabitants  joining  the  procession.  I'be 
place  of  burial  was  a  large  cavern  on  the  side  of  a 
hill  at  a  little  distance  from  the  village,  in  which, 
after  depositing  the  coffin  carefully,  ail  the  at- 
tendants repaired  to  Maquina^s  house,  where  a 
number  of  articles  belonging  to  the  deceased,  con- 
sisting of  blankets,  pieces  of  cloth,  &c.  were  burned 
by  a  person  appointed  by  Maquina  for  that  purpose, 
dressed  and  painted  in  the  highest  style,  with  his 
head  covered  with  white  down,  who,  as  he  puts 
in  the  several  pieces,  one  by  one,  poured  upon 
them  a  quantity  of  oil  to  increase  ihe  flame,  in  the 
intervals  between,  making  a  speech  and  playing  off 
a  variety  of  buffoon  tricks,  and  the  whole  closed 
with  a  least,  and  a  daa«e  from  Sat-sat-sak-sis,  the 
king^i  son.  ^*5«  i'^u'^^I^sV- ...  ■.>...■  ;^.m  .-,.  .^ ,, i- .     . . 

=  'The  man  who  performed  the  ceremony  of  boraiog 
on  this  occasion,  was  a  very  siogular  charaelei', 
named  KinnecUmmeis,     He  was  held  in  highesti* 


'.f 


!>  * 


i'  1 


1 


«l 


J      1; 


1«8 


i,.'. 


''/I 


,jr,.' 

If'i ' 


iiTl 


/!: 


li' 


if'!'- 


'V 


ii;:. 


3"j!' 


!■■'■ 


'■i> 


■V. 


tnatioD  by  the  king;  though  only  of  the  common 
cia80,  probably  from  his  talent  for  mimicry  and  buf- 
fQOQry,  and  might  be  considered  as  a  kind  of  king^s 
jester,  or  rather  as  combining  in  his  person  the 
character  of  a  buffoon  with  that  of  master  of  cere- 
mOnieR  and  public  orator  to  his  majesty,  as  he  was 
ibe  one  who  at  feasts  alwBys  regulated  the  places 
of  the  guests,  delivered  speeches  on  receiving  or 
feiuraing  visits,  besides  amusing  the  company  at 
f^U  their  entertainments,  with  a  variety  of  monkey 
pranks  and  antic  gestures,  which  appeared  to  these 
savages  the  height  of  wit  and  humour,  bat  would 
be  considered  as  extremely  low  by  the  least  polished 
people.  Almost  all  the  kings  or  head  chiefs  of  the 
principal  tribes  were  accompanied  by  a  similar 
character,  who  appeared  to  be  attached  to  their 
digaity,  and  are  called  in  their  language,  dimmer^ 

»!f  This  man,  KinnecUmmeiSy  was  particularly 
odious  to  Thompson,  who  would  never  join  in  the 
laugh  at  his  tricks,  but  when  he  began,  would  al- 
most always  quit  the  House  with' a  very  surly 
look,  and  an  exclamation  of  cursed  fool!  which 
Maquina,  who  thought  nothing  could  equal  the 
cleverness  of  his  Cltmmer-habbee,  used  to  remark, 
with  much  dissatisfaction,  asking  me  why  Thomp* 
son  never  laughed,  observing  that  I  must  have  had 
a  very  good-tempered  woman  indeed  for  my  mother, 
as  my  father  was  so  very  ill-natured  a  man. 


A    .. 


n 


136 

S<  Amoog  those  perforroances  (hat  gained  him  the 
greatest  applause,  was  his  taieat  of  eating  to  ex- 
cess, for  I   have  known  him  devour  at  one  meal, 
DO  less  than  seventy-five  large  herrin^fs;  and  at 
another  time,  when  a  great  feast  was  given  by 
Maquina,  he  undertook,  after  drinking  thre^  pints 
of  oil  by  way  of  a  whet,  to  eat  four  dried  salmon*, 
and  five  quarts  of  spawn,  mixed  np  with  a  gallon  of 
train  oil,  and  actually  succeeded  in  swallowing  the 
greater  part  of  this  mess,  until  his  stomach  became 
80  overloaded,  as  to  discharge  its  contents  in  the 
dish.     One  of  his  exhibitions,  however,  had  nearly 
cost  him  his  life ;  this  was  on  the  occasion  of  Kla* 
quak-eC'Tia^  one  of  the  chiefs,  having  bought  him  a 
new  wife,  ia  celebration  of  which  he   ran  three 
times  through  a  large  fire,  and  burned  himself  in 
such  a  manner,  that  he  was  not  able  to  stir  for 
more  than  four  weeks.      These  feats    of  savage 
skill  were  much  praised  by  Maquina,  who  never 
failed  to  make  him       lents  of  cloth,  muskets,  &c« 
on  sueh  occasions*  v«».<^t;k  i?w..;ruji:.  r^^ 

The  death  of  Tootoosch  increased  still  more  the 
disquietude  which  his  Jelirium  had  excited  among 
the  savages,  and  all  those  chiefs  who  had  killed 
our  men,  became  much  alarmed,  lest  they  should 
be  seized  with  the  same  disorder,  and  die  like  him; 
more  particularly,  as  I  had  told  Maquina,  that 
I  believed  his  insanity  was  a  punishment  inflicted 


!      ' 

*    I) 
I    i 


!il 


.   i : 


;1 


i 


'J 


,^a*? 


i 


\m 


% 


J- 

i 

\  ■ 


■M-; 


:i' 


m 

:  '  ■    ■ 

im 

i^',:. 

\m 

'i     1 

'WM 

IflK 

■':■■ 

'  1' 

■Bl'r  'i 

)    ;  . 

, 

Kg.  : 

-, 

[: 

Wp 

1  '■' 

m-'\ 

[■  '• 

.  ,1 


^^5^ 


140 

00  htnl  by  Quahooize,  tor  his  craelty  id  marderiog 
two  ioooceot  meo,  who  had  never  iojared  him. 

)^  Our  Bituation  bad  now  become  unpleasant  in  the 
cxtKerne.  The  summer  was  so  far  advanced,  that 
we  nearly  despaired  of  a  ship  arriving  to  our  relief, 
and  with  that  expectation,  almost  relinquished  the 
hope  of  ever  having  it  in  our  power  to  quit  this 
savage  land.  We  were  treated  too  with  less  in- 
dtilgence  than  bef  ire,  both  Thompson  and  myself 
being  obliged,  in  addition  to  our  other  employ- 
ments, to  perform  the  laborious  te.<tk  of  cutting  and 
collecting  fuel,  which  we  had  to  bring  on  our 
shoulders  from  nearly  three  miles  distance,  as  it 
consisted  wholly  of  dry  trees,  all  of  which,  near 
the  village^  bad  been  consumed. 


jfjjji   «>ai; 


'  i)  tt«  iiitii^*    ^\  1 


To  add  to  this,  we  suffered  much  abuse  from  the 
common  people,  who,  when  Maquina  or  some  of 
the  chiefs  were  not  present,  would  insult  us,  calling 
US  wretched  slaves,  asking  us  where  was  our  Tyee 
or  captain,  making  gestures  signifying  that  his  head 
had  been  cat  off,  and  that  they  would  do  the  like 
to  us;  though  they  generally  took  good  care  at 
auch  times  to  keep  well  out  of  Thompson's  reach, 
as  they  had  more  than  once  experienced,  to  their 
cost,  the  strength  of  his  fist.  This  conduct  was  not 
only  provoking  and  grating  to  our  feelings  in  the 
highest  degree,  but  it  convinced  us  of  the  jil  dispa- 


:m 


141 

litioQ  of  these  savages  towards  u.%  and  rendered  us 
fearful  lest  they  might  at  80iri<;  ».  or  other  per- 
suade or  force  Maquioa  and  the  chiefs  to  put  us  to 

.,  We  were  also  often  brought  to  great  distress  for 
the  want  of  provisions,  so  far  as  to  be  reduced  to 
collect  a  scanty  supply  of  muscles  and  limpets 
from  the  rocks,  and  sometimes  even  compelled  to' 
part  with  some  of  our  most  necessary  articles  of 
clothing,  in  order  to  purchase  food  for  our  sub- 
sistence. This  was,  however,  principally  owing  to 
the  inhabitants  themselves  experiencing  a  great 
scarcity  of  provisions  this  season;  there  having 
been,  in  the  first  place,  but  very  few  salmon  caught 
at  Friendly  Cove,  a  most  unusual  circumstance, 
as  they  generally  abound  there  in  the  spring,  which  ^' 
was  by  the  natives  attributed  to  their  having  been 
driven  away  by  the  blood  of  our  men,  who  had 
been  thrown  into  Ihe  sea,  which  with  true  savage 
inconsistency,  excited  their  murmurs  against  Ma- 
quina, :  who  bad  proposed  cutting  off  our  ship.  Re- 
lying  on  this  supply,  they  had  in  the  most  incon- 
siderate m^ner,  squandered  ^way  their  winter 
stock  of  provisions,  so  that  in  a  few  days  after 
their  r^tom,  it  was  entirely  expended,  ^   ^^,    ^^,^ 

Nor  were  the  king  and  chiefs  much  more  fortu- 
nate in  tJ[)ieir  whaijqg,  even  after  I  had  furnjshed 
MaquitUi  vvitl),^  iinproved  weapon  for  that  pur- 


i;!l 


iii- 


.  I 


if  1 


14^ 


[I  J' 


•',11  ■' 

\ .  ,  ■  * 
i   v' 


V         I 


>: 


[iV- 


'  8 


it 


pvige;  but  four  whales  having  been  taken  dnnng 
the  seaion,  which  closes  the  last  of  May,  iocliiding 
one  that  had  been  struck  by  Maquina  and  escaped, 
and  was  afterwards  driven  on  shore  about^six  miles 
from  Nootka,  in  almost  a  state  of  putridity.  These 
afforded  but  a  short  supply  to  a  population,  includ- 
ing all  ages  and  sexes,  of  no  less  than  fifteen  hun- 
dred persons,  and  of  a  character  so  very  improvi- 
dent, that  after  feasting  most  gluttonously  whenever 
a  whale  was  caught,  they  were  several  times  for  a 
week  together,  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  eating 
but  once  a  day,  and  of  collecting  cockles  and  R'.ui- 
cles  from  the  rocks  for  their  food.  ' 

And  even  after  the  cod  and  halibut  fishing  enti- 
ineoced,  in  June,  in  which  they  met  with  tolerable 
success,  such  was  the  savage  caprice  of  Maquina, 
that  he  would  often  give  as  but  little  to  eat, /finally 
ordering  us  to  buy  a  canoe  and  fishing  implements, 
and  go  out  ourselves  and  fish,  or  we  shonld  have 
nothing.  To  do  this,  we  were  compelled  to  part 
with  our  great  coats,  which  were  not  only  import- 
ant to  OS  as  gartnents,  but  of  which  we  nMfde  oar 
beds,  spreading  them  under  us  when  we  slept. 
From  our  want  of  skill,  however,  iti'  this  n^w  tm- 
ploy,  we  met  with  no  success v  on  ^ifeoyering 
which,  Maquina  ordered  us  to  rsmain  at  home. 

Another  thing,  which  td  teie  in  fiti^Glblllf ,  pro^^ed 
bn  almost  constant  source  of  Vexation  and  4isgust, 
and  which  living  among  them  had  not  in  the  least 


113 

reconciled  me  to,  fr«i  their  exlrcinr  illthiness,  not 
only  in  Jiog  fish,  especially  the  whale,  wluu  in 
a  state  of  oflTen^ive  putridity,  but  while  at  their 
meals,  of  making  a  practice  of  taking  the  vermin 
Aroni  their  heads  or  clothes,  and  eating  them,  by 
tarns  thrusting  their  fingers  into  their  hair,  and 
into  the  dish*  and  spreading  their  garments  over 
th*  tttbs  in  which  the  provision  was  cooking,  in 
order  to  set  in  motion  their  inhabitants.        <'  rr..r 

Fortunately  for  Thompson,  he  regarded  this 
much  less  than  myself,  and  when  I  used  to  point 
out  to  him  any  instance  of  their  filthiness  in  this 
respect,  he  would  laugh  and  reply,  Never  minii 
John,  the  more  good  things  the  luetter.  I  must, 
however,  do  Maquina  the  justice  to  state,  that  he 
was  much  neater  both  in  his  person  and  eating 
than  were  the  others,  as  was  likewise  his  queen, 
owing  no  doubt  to  his  intercourse  with  foreigners, 
which  had  given  him  ideas  of  cleanliness,  for  I 
never  saw  either  of  tbem  eat  any  of  these  animals, 
but  on  the  contrary  they  appeared  not  much  to 
relish  this  taste  in  others.  Their  garments,  also, 
were  much  oleaoer,  Maquina  having  been  accus* 
tomed  to  gtve  his  away  when  they  became  soiled, 
till  Hfler  he  discovered  that  Thompson  and  myself 
kept  oetrs  clean  by  washing  them,  when  he  used 
to  make  Thompson  do  the  same  for  him. 


v",i    «•;«) 


,  |.,f.y 


'^latt 


'  Yet  amidst  this  state  of  endurance  and  disap- 


I  ♦  t 


UH 


CD:    ■: 


It 


•     i 

I,' 


is.  |,,, 


/I 


»  . 


144 

pointment,  in  hearing  repeatedly  of  the  arrival  of 
saiiB  at  the  north  and  south,  most  of  which  proved 
to  be  idle  reports,  while  expectation  was  almost 
wearied  out  in  looking  f^r  them^  we  did  not  wholly 
de<«pond,  relying  on  the  mercy  of  the  Supreme 
Being,  to  offer  up  to  whom  our  devotions  on  the 
da) 8  apposiited  for  his  worship,  was  our  chief 
consolation  and  support,^  though  we  were  some- 
times obliged,  by  our  task-masters,  to  infringe 
upon  the  Sabbath,  which  was  to  me  a  source  of 
much  regret.^N    pH:  ..m^-?ii'?>0'^'s''  •T?a--«^f*^t.ef?;h^i^^f  . 

\   We  were,  nevertheless,  treated  at   times  with 
much   kindness  by  Maquina,   who  would  give  us 
a  plenty  of  the  ^'>est  that  he  had  to  eat,  and  occa- 
sionally, some  small  present  of  cloth  for  a  garment, 
promising  me,  that  if  any  ship  should  arrive  within 
a  hundred  miles  of  Nootka,  he  would  send  a  canoe 
with  a  letter  from  me  to  the  captain,  so  that  he 
rjight  come  to  our  release.     These  flattenng  pro- 
mises and  marks  of  attention,  were,  however,  at 
those  times  when  he  thought  himself  in  i^ersonal 
danger  from  a  mutinous,  spirit,  which  the  scarcity 
of  provisions  had  excited  among  the  natives^  who, 
like  true  savages,  imputed  all  their  piiblic  cala- 
mities, of  whatever  kind,    to  the  miscondoct  of 
their  chief,  or  when  be  was  apprehensive  of  an  at- 
tack from  somef>f  the  otl;  ?r  tribes  who  were  irri- 
tated  with  him  for  cutting  off  thp  Boston,  as  it 
bad  prevented  sI^ipB  from  coming  to  trade  with 


U6 

them,  and  were  eoD8(aDtly  alarmiag  him  with  idle 
stories  of  vessels  that  were  preparing  to  come 
against  him,  and  exterminate  boUi  him  and  bis 
people,  t  ;r: ;/ 


J    •  i.JU"n 


•-•'.n 


'■■  M  • 


.7J»>  ■f'^-^^;. 


At  sach  times,  he  made  us  keep  guard  over  him 
both  night  and  day,  armed  with  catlasses  and 
pistols,  being  apparently  afraid  to  trust  any  of  his 
own  meD«  At  one  time,  it  was  a  general  revolt 
of  his  people  that  he  apprehended ;  then  three  of  hi» 
principal  chiefs,  among  whom  was  his  elder  bro- 
ther, had  ccQspired  to  take  avi^ay  bis  life ;  and  at 
length,  he  fancied  that  a  small  party  of  Klaoo** 
quates,  between  whom  and  the  Nootkians,  little 
friendship  subsisted,  had  come  to  Nootka,  under  a 
pretence  of  trade,  for  the  sole  purpose  of  mnrdi^rbg 
him  and  his  family,  telling  us,  probably  to  sharpea 
our  vigilance,  that  their  intention  was  to  kill  at 
likewise  ^  and  so  strongly  were  his  fears  excited 
on  this  occasion,  that  he  not  only  ordered  oi  to 
keep  near  him  armed  by  day,  whenever  he  went 
out,  and  to  patrole  at  night  before  bis  house  while 
they  remained,  but  to  continue  the  same  guard  for 
three  days  after  they  were  gone,  and  to  fire  at  oat 
and  at  four  in  the  morning,  one  of  the  great  guns,  to 
let  them  know,  if,  as  be  suspected,  they  were 
lurking  in  the  neighbourhood,  that  he  was  on  his 


■.>■••  '■     t^  <      ■'•-'?  t^t^s*. 


While  he  was  thus  favourably  disposed  towards 


1^.    : 


u 


I 


t 


m 


■ 


I 

i 


iy-i 


('■■ 


■i 


V 


'> 

i 

f .  f 


U6 

as,  I  took  an  opportuDity  to  inform  him  of  the  ill 
treatment  that  we  frequently  received  from  his 
people,  and  the  k suits  that  were  offered  us  by  some 
of  the  stranger  tribes  in  calling  us  white  slaves, 
and  loading  us  with  other  opprobrious  terras.  He 
was  much  displeased,  and  said  that  his  subjects 
should  not  be  allowed  to  treat  us  ill,  and  that  if  any 
of  the  strangers  did  it,  he  wished  us  to  puniish  the 
offenders  with  death,  at  the  same  time  directing  as, 
for  our  security,  to  go  constantly  armed.     . 

H,  This  permrssioD  was  soon  improved  by  Thompson 
to  the  best  advantage;  for  a  few  days  after,  having 
gone  to  the  pond  to  wash  some  of  our  clothes,  and 
bknket  for  Maquina,  several  Wickinninish  who 
were  th^n  at  Nootka,  came  thither,  and  seeing  him 
washing  the  clothes,  and  the  blanket  spread  upon 
the  grass  to  dry,  they  began  according  to  custom, 
to  insult  him,  and  one  of  them  bolder  than  the 
v^hers.  walked  over  the  i^ilanket  Thompson  was 
highly  incensed^  and  threatened  the  Indian  with 
death  if  he  repeated  the  offence,  but  he;  in  contempt 
of  the  threat,  trampUd  upon  the  blanket,  when 
drawing  his  cutlass,  without  farther  ceremony, 
Thompson  cut  off  bis  head,  on  seeing  which  the 
others  ran  off  at  fall  speed;  Thompson  then  gather- 
ing up  the  clothes  and  blanket,  on  which  were  the 
marks  of  the  Indian^s  dirty  feet,  and  taking  with 
him  the  head,  returned  and  informed  the  king  of 
what  had  passed,  who  was  much  pleased,  and  highly 


147 

commeaded  his  conduct.  This  had  a  favourable 
effect  lor  us,  not  only  on  the  stranger  tribe?,  but 
the  inhabitants  themselves,  who  treated  us  after- 
wards, with  less  disresi)ect     ^s!ii^^,f>v,,/^>w,,  ,7 

In  the  latter  part  of  July,  Maquiua  iofoniied  me 
that  he  was  going  to  war  with  the  A-y^charts,  a 
tribe  about  fifty  imles  to  the  souih-  on  account 
of  some  controversy  that  had  arisen  the  preceding 
fummer,  and  that  I  mast  make  a  number  of  daggers 
for  bis  men,  and  cheetoolihs  for  his  chiefs,  which 
having  completed,  he  wislied  me  to  make  for  his 
own  use  a  weapon  of  quite  a  different  form,  in  order 
to  dispatch  his  enemy  by  one  biow  on  the  head,  it 
being  the  calculation  of  these  nations  on  going  to 
war,  to  surprise  their  adversaries  while  asleep. — 
This  was  a  steel  dagger,  or  more  properly  a  spike, 
of  about  six  inches  long,  made  very  sharp,  set  at 
right  angles  in  an  iron  handle  of  fifteen  inches  long, 
terminatitig  at  the  lower  end  in  a  crook  or  turn,  so 
as  to  prevent  its  being  wrenched  from  the  hand,  and 
at  the  upper,  in  a  round  knob  or  head,  from  whence 
the  spike  protruded.  This  instrument  I  polished 
highly,  and  the  more  to  please  Maquina,  formed  on 
the  back  of  the  knob,  the  resemblance  of  a  man^» 
head,  with  the  mouth  open,  substituting  for  eyes, 
black  beads,  which  i  fastened  in  with  red  sealing  wax. 
This  pleased  him  much,  and  was  greatly  admired 
by  hia  chiefs,  who  wanted  me  to  make  similar  ones 


'i.?" 


m ; 

1 1 

i-  If 


f  ;! 


l^ 


'■\ 


n 


::1 

'I'! 


*%*■ 


ii-"^|  .lU'  ,!f  ^'I'ii'n  7t:*t  ■^MA  ?1i  tfi.i^>l=i«« 


.     if ' 
If  ■ ,.  !| 


«!,  <i 


148 

'"V 

for  them,  hut  Maqaina  woald  not  suffer  it,  re&err- 
ing  for  himself  alone  this  weapon.  k>,   /?iv:^^ 

When  these  people,  have  finally  determined  on 
war,  they  make  it  an  invariable  practice  for  three 
or  four  weeks  prior  to  the  expedition,  to  go  into  the 
water  five  or  six  times  a  day,  when  they  wash  and 
scrub  themselves  from  head  to  foot  with  bushes  in> 
termixed  with  briars,  so  that  their  bodies  and  faces 
will  often  be  entirely  covered  with  blood.  During 
this  severe  exercise,  they  are  continually  exclaim* 
iug,  *'^  Wocash  Quahootze^  leechamme  ah  zcelth^ 
wik'€tish  tau-ilik — Kar-sab-maiemas —  Wik-sisk 
to  hauk  matemas — /  ya-ish  k ah  skittle — As'SmoO" 
iish  warich  matemas;^'*  which  signifies  good  or 
great  God,  let  me  live — Not  be  aiek — Find  the 
enemy — Not  fear  him — Find  him  asleep^  and  kill 

* 

a  great  many  of  them.     ' 


,iv<t.-.^.;. 


During  the  whole  cf  this  period,  they  have  no  in- 
tercourse with  their  women,  and  for  a  week, 
before  setting  out,  abstain  from  feasting  or  any  kind 
of  merriment,  appearing  thoughtful,  gloomy,  and 
morose,  and  for  the  three  last  days,  are  almost 
constantly  in  the  water,  both  by  day  and  night, 
scrubbing  and  lacerating  themselves  in  a  terrible 
manner.  Maquina  having  informed  Thompson 
and  myself  that  he  should  fake  us  with  him,  was 
very  solicitous  that  he  should  bathe  and  scrub  our- 
selves  in  the  same  way  with  them,  telling  me  that 


-#T,  !f« 


\u 


149    . 

it  would  harden  our  skins,  so  that  the  weapons  of 
the  enemy  would  not  pierce  them,  but  as  we  felt 
no  great  inclination  to  amuse  ourselves  in  this 
manner,  we  declined  it. 


It 


r... 


^he  expedilion  consisted  of  forty  canoes,  cairying 
from  ten  to  twenty  men  each*  Thompson  and  my- 
self armed  ourselves  with  cutlasses  and  pistols,  but 
the  natives,  although  they  had  a  plenty  of  Eu- 
ropean arms,  took  with  them  only  their  daggers 
and  cheetoolths,  with  a  few  bows  and  arrows,  the 
latter  being  about  a  yard  in  length,  and  pointed 
with  copper,  muscle  shell,  or  bone :  the  bows  are 
four  feet  and  a  half  long,  with  strings  mads  of 
whale  sinew. 


■ 

m 

Pi 


To  go  to  A-y-chart,  vfS  ascended  from  twenty  to 
thirty  miles,  a  river  about  the  size  of  that  of 
Tashees,  the  banks  of  whi<:h  are  high  and  covered 
with  wood.  At  midnight,  we  came  in  sight  of  tne . 
village,  which  was  situated  on  the  west  bank, 
near  the  shore,  on  a  steep  hill  difficult  of  access, 
and  well  calculated  for  defence.  It  consisted  of 
fifteen  or  sixteen  houses,  smaller  than  those  at  Noot- 
ka,  and  built  in  the  same  style,  but  compactly 
placed.  By  Maqaiaa's  directions,  the  attack  was 
deferred  until  the  first  appearance  of  dawn,  as  he 
said  that  was  the  time  when  men  slept  the  soundest. 


'At  length  all  being  ready  for  the  attack,   we 


1^0 


Jf  -■■ 


/• 


landed  with  the  greatest  silence,  and  going  around 
•    so  as  to  come  upon  the  foe  in  the  rear^  clambered 
up  the  hill,   and  while  the   natives,    as  is  their  ,. 
custott),  entered  the  several  huts,  creeping  on  all 
fours,  my  comrade  aud  myself  stationed  ourselves 
without,  to  intercept  tho&e  who  should  attempt  to 
escape,    or  come  to  the    aid  of  their  friends,     I  ^^ 
wished  if  possible,    not  to  stain  my  hands  in  the^ 
blood  of  any  fellow  creature,  and  though  Thompson  | 
would  gladly  have  put  to  death  all  the  savages  in  ., 
^    the  country,  he  was  too  brave  to  think  of  attacking  , 
^   a  sleeping  enemy. 


\  lilir 


■^#■- 


Having  entered  the  houses,  on  the  war-whoop 
being  given  by  Maqnina,  as  he  seized  the  head  of 
the  chief,  and  gave  him  the  fatal  blow^  all  pro- 
ceeded to  the  work  of  death.  The  A-y -charts 
being  thus  surprized,  were  unable  to  make  resis- 
t^iUce,  and  with  the  exception  of  a  very  few,  who 
were  so  fortunate  as  to  make  their  escape,  w^re  all 
killed  or  taken  prisoners  ou  condition  of  becoming 
slaves  to  their  captors.  I  had  the  good  fortune  to 
take  four  captives,  whom  Maquina,  as  a  favor, 
permitted  me  to  consider  as  mine,  and  occasionally 
en^ploy  them  in  fishing  for  me;  as  for  Thompson, 
who  thirsted  for  revenge,  he  had  no  wish  io  take 
any  prisoners,  but  with  his  cutlass,  the  only 
weapon  he  would  employ  against  them,  succeeded 
in  killing  seven  stout  fellows,  who  came  to  attack 
him,  an  act  which  obtained  him  great  ^redit  with 


Ul 


Maqnioa  and  the  chiefs,  who  after  this,  held  him 
in  mach  higher  estimatioD,  and  gave  him  the 
appeliatioQ  of  Chehiel'Sttma'har,  it  being  the  name 
of  a  very  celebrated  vparrior  of  their  nation  in  anci- 
ent times,  whose  exploits  were  the  constant  theme 
of  their  praise •  ' 


>! 


After  having  put  to  death  all  the  old  and  infirm 
of  either  sex,  as  is  the  barbarons  practice  of  tliese 
people^  and  destroyed  the  buildings,  we  re-embark- 
ed with  oar  booty  in  our  canoes,  for  Nootka, 
where  we  were  received  with  great  demonstra- 
tions of  joy  by  the  iiirotn^n  and  children,  accompa- 
nying^ our  war  song  with  a  most  furious  drumming 
on  the  houses.  The  next  day  a  great  feast  was 
given  by  Maquina,  in  celebration  of  his  victory, 
which  was  terminated  as  nsusil  with  a  dance  by 
Sat-sat-sak-6is. 


11 


;  ■  •  1 


,: 


Repeated  applications  had  been  made  to  Maqui- 
na, by  a  number  of  kings  or  chiefs,  to  purchase 
me,  especially  after  he  had  sheMed  them  the 
harpoon  I  had  made  for  him,  which  he  took  much 
pride  in,  but  he  constantly  refused  to  part  with  me 
on  any  terms. — Among  these,  the  king  of  the 
Wickinninish  was  particularly  solicitous  to  obtain 
me,  having  twice  applied  to  Maquina  for  that 
purpose,  once  in  a  very  formal  manner,  by  sending 
his  messenger  with  four  canoes,  who  as  he 
approached  the   shore,  decorated  in  their  highest 


.Ml 


152 


Btyle,  with  the  white  dowii  on  his  head,  &e, 
declai-ed  that  he  came  to  buy  To.iteyoohamiis^  the 
Dame  hy  which  I  was  known  to  them,  for  his 
master,  and  that  he  had  brought  for  that  purpose 
four  youDg  male  slaves,  two  highly  ornamented  ca- 
noes, such  a  number  of  the  skins  of  metamelth,  and  of 
the  quarilack,  or  seaolter,  and  so  many  fathoms  of 
cloth  and  of  i-whaVv,  while  as  he  mentioned  the  dif- 
ferent articles,  they  were  pointed  out  or  held  up  by 
his  attendants,  but  even  this  tempting  oifer  had  no 
influence  on  Maquina .;  who  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
iiummer,  was  again  very  strongly  urged  to  sell  me 
hy  Ul&tilla.  or  as  he  is  generally  called  Machee 
Ulatilla,  chief  of  the  Klaizzarts,  who  had  come 
io  Nootka  on  a  visit. 


:>^>.' 


I  -ill.. 


Thi^  chief,  who  could  speak  tolerable  English, 
had  much  more  the  appearance  of  a  civilized  man, 
than  any  of  the  savages  that  I  saw.  He  appeared  to 
be  about  thirty,  was  rather  small  in  his  person,  hut 
extremely  well  formed,  with  a  skin  almost  as  fair 
as  that  of  an  European,  good  features,  and  a 
countenance  expressive  of  candour  and  amiableneeig, 
and  which  was  almost  always  brightt^ned  with  a 
smile.  He  was  much  nen^ter  both  in  his  dress  a*,  d 
person  than  any  of  the  other  chiefs,  seldom  weariug 
paint,  except  upon  his  eye-brows,  which  after  the 
custom  of  his  couLtry,  were  plucked  out,  aL:d  a 
few  strips  of  the  ptlpeltli  on  the  lower  part  of  his 
face.     He  always  treated  me  with  much  kindness, 


■ .    .'  ',  u 


^i 


163 


was  fond  of  conversiog  with  hie  in  EDglish  and  in 
his  own  language,  asking  me  many  questions 
relative  to  my  cduntry,  its  manners,  customs,  Set, 
and  apjieared  to  take  a  strong  interest  in  my  fate, 
telJing  roe,  that  if  he  could  persuade  Maquina  to 
part  with  me,  he  would  pot  me  on  board  the  first 
ship  that  came  to  his  country;  a  promise,  which 
from  his  subsequant  conduct,  I  have  good  reason 
to  think  he  would  have  performed,  as  my  delive* 
ranee  at  length,  from  captivity  and  suffering  was, 
under  the  favour  of  divine  providence,  wholly 
owing  to  him,  the  only  fetter  thai  ever  reached  an 
Euiropean  or  American  vessel,  out  of  sixteen  that 
I  Wi^ote  at  di^erent  times,  and  sent  to  various 
pAtlB  of  the  coast,  '^ving  been  delivered  by  him  iu 
person.  So  much  pleased  was  I  with  this  man^s 
behaviour  to  me  while  at  Nootka,  that  I  made  for 
him  a  Chtietoolth,  which  I  burnished  highly,  and 
engraved  with  figures;  with  this  he  was  greatly 
delighted,  I  also  would  have  made  for  him  a 
harpoon  would  Miaqaina  have  consented. 

With  hearts  fall  o(^  dejection  and  almost  lost  to 
hope,  no  ship  having  appeared  off  Njotka  this 
season,  did  my  companion  and  myself  accompany 
the  tribe  on  their  removal  in  September,  to  Tashees, 
relinquishing  in  consequence,  for  six  months,  even 
tiife  remotest  expectation  of  rdief.     v^^v 

"^    SoofH  after  our    establishment    there,    Maquina 

O  3 


'ii 


• '  i 


t  '■! 


:     i 


^*  * 


■i 


154 


i' 


Lf 


infnnned  me,  that  he  and  his  chiefs  had  held 
couDcil  hotb  before  and  after  quitting  Nootka,  in 
which  (hey  had  determined  that  I  roust  marry  one 
of  their  women,  Uiglsor  as  a  reason  to  induce  me 
to  consent,  that  as  there  was  now  no  probability 
of  a  ship  coming  to  Nootka  to  release  roe,  that  I 
must  consider  myself  as  destined  to  pass  the 
remainder  of  my  life  with  them,  that  the  sooner  I 
conformed  to  their  customs  the  better,  and  that  a 
wife  and  family  would  render  me  more  contented 
and  satisfied  with  their  mode  of  living.  I  remon- 
strated against  thi?  decision,  but  to  no  purpose,  for 
he  told  me  that  should  I  refuse,  both  Thompson 
and  myself  would  be  put  to  death,  telling  me 
however,  that  if  there  w^re  none  of  the  women  of 
his  tribe  that  pleased  me,  he  would  go  with  me  to 
some  of  the  other  bribes,  where  i\e  would  purchase 
for  me  such  a  one  as  I  should  select.  Reduced  to 
this  sad  extremity,  with  dtath  on  the  one  side,  and 
matrimony  on  the  other,  I  thought  proper  to  choose 
what  appeared  to  me  the  least  of  the  two  evils,  and 
consent  to  be  married,  on  condition,  that  as  I  did 
not  fancy  any  of  the  Nootka  women,  I  should  be 
permitted  to  make  choice  of  one  from  some  other 
tribe.  ^ 

■■    ,  ' 

This  being  settled,  the  next  morning  by  day  light 
Maquina  with  about  fifty  men  in  two  canoes,  set 
out  with  me  for  A-i-tiz-zart,  taking  with  him  a 
quantity  of  c^oth,  a  number  of  muskets,  sea  otter 


M 


1    w  w 

sUiDS,  <&c.  forthe  purchaee  ofmy  bride.     With  the 
aid  of  our  paddle§  aod  sailn,  being  favoured  with  a 
fair  breeze,  we  arrived  some  time  before  sun  set  at 
the  village.     Our  arrival  excited  a  general  alarm, 
and  the  men  hastened  to  the  shore,  armed  with  the 
weapons  of  their  country,  making  many  warlike  de- 
monstrations, and  displaying  much  Zealand  activi- 
ty.    We  in  the  mean  time  remained  quietly  seated 
in  our  canoes,  where  we  remained  for  about  half  an 
hour,  when  the   messenger  of  the  chief,  dressed  in 
their  best  manner,  came  to  welcome  us,  and  invite 
us  on  shore  to  eat.     We  followed  him  in  procession 
to  the  chief^s  house,  Maquina  at  our  head,  taking 
eare  to  leave  a  sufficient  number  in  the  boats  to  pro* 
tect  the  property.     When  we  came  to  the  house,  we 
were  ushered  in  with  much  ceremony,,  and  our  re- . 
spective  seats  pointed  out  to  us,  mine  being  next  to 
Maquina  by  his  request. 

After  having  been  regaled  with  a  feast  of  herring 
spawn  and  oil,  Maquina  asked  me  if  I  saw  any  a- 
mong  the  women  who  were  present  that  I  liked,  I 
immediately  pointed  out  to  a  youn^  ^irl  of  about 
seventeen,  the  daughter  of  Upqu  . «,  the  chief,  who 
was  sitting  near  him  by  her  mother.  On  this  Ma- 
quina making  a  sign  to  his  men,  arose  and  taking 
me  by  the  hand,  walked  into  the  middle  of  the 
room,  and  sent  off  two  of  his  men  to  bring  ihe  boxes 
coDtaining  the  presents  from  the  canoes.  In  the 
mean  time  Kinneclimmets,  the  master  of  cererao- 


I 


> 


I 


I- 


9 


■  *,' 


1) 


*'        -'V 

!  fcJ 


n^ 


i! 


li; 


y 


156 

uicd,  whom  I  have  already  spoken  of,  made  himself 
ready  for  the  part  he  watt  to  act,  by  powdering  bis 
hair  with  white  down. — When  the  chests  were 
brought  in,  specimens  of  the  several  articles  were 

.  taken  oat,  and  shewed  by  oar  men,  one  of  whom 
held  up  a  nnosketi  another  a  skin,  a  third  a  piece 

.  of  clotb,  <&c.  On  this,  Kinneclimroets  stepped 
forward,  and  addressing  the  chief,  informed  him 
that  all  these  belonged  to  me,  mentioning  the 
nnmber  oi  each  kind,  and  that  they  were  offered  to 
him  for  the  purchase  of  his  daughter  Ewstoch'ee'ex' 
qua,  as  a  wife  for  me.  As  he  said  this,  the  men 
who  held  op  the  various  articles,  walked  up  to  the 
chief,  and  with  a  very  stern  and  morose  look,  the 
complimentary  one  oa  these  occasions^  threw  them 
at  his  feet.     Immediately  on  which,  all  the  tribe, 

'  both  men  and  women,  who  were  as  jmbled  on  this 
occasion,  set  up  a  cry  of  Klack-ko-Tyee,  that  is, 
Thank  ye  chief.  His  men,  after  this  ceremony, 
having  returned  to  their  places,  Maqoina  rose,  and 
in  a  speech  of  more  thaff'haif  an  hour,  said  much  in 
my  praise  to  the  A-i-tiz-zart  chief,  telling  him  that 
I  was  as  good  a  man  as  theinselves,  differing  from 
them  only  in  being  white,  that  I  was  besides 
acquainted  with  many  things  of  which  they  were 
ignorant;  that  I  knew  how  to  mak«  daggers, 
cheetoolths,  and  harpoons,  and  was  a  very  valoa- 

rble  person,  whom  he  was  determined  to  keepahmys 
with  him;  praising  me  at  tiie  same  time  for  the 
goodness  of  my  temper,  and  the  manner  in  which 


.  ;  157 

I  had  condiiclcd  myself  sioce  I  had  been  will) 
them,  observiog  that  all  the  people  of  Nootka, 
and  even  the  children,  loved  me* 


While  Maquina  was  speaking,  his  master  of  cere- 
monies was  continually  skipping  about,    making 
the  most  extravagant   gestures,    and    exclaiming 
fVocash.     When   he  had  ceased,  the  A-i-tiz-zart 
■'chief  arose  amidst  the  acclamations  of  his  people, 
and  began  with  setting  forth  the  many  good  qua- 
>  lities  and  accomplishments  of  his  daughter i  that  he 
-f'  loved   her  greatly,  and  as  she  was  his  only  one, 
he  could  not  think  of  parting  with  her.     He  spoke 
(i  in  this  manner  for  some  time«  but  finally  concluded 
J  by  consenting  to  the  proposed  union,  requesting 
?t  that  she  might  be  well  used  and  kindly  tseated  by 
'  her  husband.     At  the  close  of  this  speech,  when 
the  chief  began  to  manifest  a  disposition  to  consent 
'  to  Otfr  union,  Kinneclimmets  a<;ain  began  to  call 
,  out  as  loud  as  he  could  bawl,  Wocash,  cutting  a 
.;a  thousand  capers  and  spinning  himself  around  on 
^,hls  heel  like  a  top. 

.,:  When  Upquesta  had  finished  his  speech,  he  di- 
y  rected  his  people  to  carry  back  the  presents  which 
i  Maquina  bad  given  him,  to  me,  together  with  two 

young  male  slaves,  to  assist  me  in  fishing.  These, 
,  after  having  been  placed  before  me,  were  by  Ma- 
'  quina^s   men   taken  on    board  the   canoes.      This 

cereriiony  being  over,  we  were  invited  by  one  of 


i 


■i 


;  168 

the  principal  chiefs  to  a  feast,  at  his  house,  of 
Klussamit^  or  dried  herriog,  where  after  the  eating 
was  over,  Kinneciimmets  amosed  the  company 
very  highly  with  his  tricks,  and  the  evening^s  en* 
tertainraent  was  closed  by  a  new  war  son<r  from  our 
men,  and  one  in  retorn  from  th^  A-i-tiz-zarts,  a€« 
Gompaoied  with  expressive  gestures,  and  wielding 
of  their  weapons. 

^  After  this  o«r  company  tetamed  to  lodge  at  Up- 
qnesta's,  except  a  few  who  were  left  on  board  the 
canoes,  to  watch  (he  property.  In  the  morning 
I  received  from  the  chief  bis  daag^r,  with  an 
earnest  request  that  I  woald  ii«e  herwell,  which 
1  promised  him;  when  taking  leave  of  her  parents, 
she  accompanied' Fae  ^th  apparent  Mtisfaction  on 
board  of  the  caDoe.  ,;  . 

The  wind  being  a-head,  the  natives  were  obliged 
to  have  reooarse  to  their  paddles,  accompanying 
them  with  their  songs,  interspersed  with  the  witti« 
cisms  and  buffoonry  of  Kinneciimmets,  who,  in  his 
capacity  of  king^s  steersman,  one  of  his  functions 
which  I  forgot  io  enumerate,  not  only  guided  the 
coarse  of  the  canoe,  but  regulated  the  singing  of 
the  boatmen.  At  about  five  in  the  morniag,  we 
reached  Tashees,  where  we  found  all  the  inhabi- 
tants collected  on  the  shore  to  receive  us*  We 
were  welcomed  with  loud  shouts  of  joy,  and  excla- 
mations of  Wocash,  and   the  women  taking  my 


159 


bride  under  their  cbftrge,  conducted  her  to  M aquina's  I 
house,  to  be  kept  with  them  for  teu  days;  it  being  .• 
an  universal  custom,  as   Maqaina   informed   me, 
that  no  intercour«e  should  take  place  between  the 
new  married  pair  during  that  period.     At  night  Ma- 
qaina gave  a  great  feast,  which  was  succeeded  by  a  i} 
dance,  in  which  all  the  women  joined,  and  thusended  f 
the  festivities  of  my  marriage.  ,    ,^     , .,  ,,  i 


4 


'    ! 


The  terip,  of  my  probation  being  over,  Maqoiua^:^ 
assigned, me  as  aniaparAmentt:  the  space  in  the  up-rM 
per  part  of  his  house,  between  hjm  and  his  elder  bro*<r 
ther,  whose  room  was  opposite.     Here  I  establish- 
ed   myself  with  my  family,  consi^ng  of  myself 
and  wife,  Thompson,  and  the  little  Sat-sat-sak-sis, 
who  had  always  been  strongly  attached  to  me,  and  n 
now  solicited  his  father  to  let  him  live  with  me,  tod 
which  he   consented.     This  boy  was  handsome, 
extremely  well  formed,  amiable,  and  of  a  pleasant  > 
sprightly  disposition.     I  used  to  take  a  pleasure  in 
decorating  him  with   rings,  bracelets,  ear  jewels, 
&c.  which  I  made  for  him  of  copper,  and  orna- 
mented and  polished  them  in  my  best  manner.     I 
was  also  very  careful  to  keep  him  free  from  vermin 
of  every  kind,  washing  him  and  combing  his  hair 
every  day.     These  marks  of  attention  were  not 
only  very  pleasing  to  the  child,  who  delighted  in 
being  kept  neat  and   clean,  as  well  as  in  being 
dressed  off  in  his  finery,  but  was  highly  gratifying 


''i\ 


\ 


,  5 


\ 


h    i 


h'') 


III 

m 


'  160 

both  to  Maqaina  and  his  queen,  who  used  to  ex- 
press much  satisfaction  at  my  care  of  him. 

In  making  my  domestic  establishment,  I  deter- 
mined,  as  far  as  possible,  to  live  in  a  more  com- 
fortable and  cleanly  manner  than  the  others. — 
For  this  purpose,  I  erected  with  planks,  a  partition 
of  about  three  feet  high,  between  mine  and  the 
adjoining  rooms,  and  made  three  bedsteads  of  the 
same,  which  I  covered  with  boards,  for  my  family 
to  sleep  on,  which  1  found  much  more  comfortable 
than  sleeping  on  the  floor  amidst  the  dirt. 

Fortunately  \\  found  my  Indian  princess  both 
amiable  and  intelligent,  for  one  whose  limited 
sphere  of  observation  must  necessarily  give  rire  to 
but  a  few  ideas.  She  was  extlremely  ready  to 
agree  to  any  thing  that  I  proposed  relative  to  our 
mode  of  living,  was  very  attentive  in  keeping  her 
garments  and  person  neat  and  clean,  and  appeared 
in  every  respect,  solicitous  to  please  me. 

She  was,  as  I  have  said,  about  seventeen,  her 
person  was  small,  but  well  formed,  as  were  her 
features,  her  complexion  was,  without  exception, 
fairer  than  any  of  the  women,  with  considerable 
colour  in  Ler  cheeks,  her  hair  long,  black,  and 
much  softer  than  is  usual  with  them,  and  her  teeth 
small,  even,  and  of  a  dazzling  whiteness,    while 


[.* 


II /'f 


161 

(heexpressioQ  of  her  coanteriaace,  iadicated  sweet- 
ness of  temper  aod  modesty.  She  would,  indeed, 
ctave  been  considered  as  very  pretty  in  any  country, 
ind  excepting  Maqnina's  queen,  was  by  far  ^he 
liandsomest  of  any  of  their  women. 


I 


M 


: 


With  a  partner  possessing  so  many  attractions, 
many  may  be  apt  to  conclude,  that  I  must  iiave 
found  myself  happy,  at  least  comparatively  so; 
but  far  otherwise  was  it  with  me,  a  compulsory 
marriage  with  the  most  beautiful  and  accomplished 
person  in  the  world,  can  never. prove  a  source  of 
real  happiness;  and  in  my  situation,  I  could  not 
but  view  this  connexion  as  a  chain  that  was  to  bind 
me  down  to  this  savage  land,  and  prevent  my  ever 
again  seeing  a  civilized  country;  especially,  when 
in  a  few  days  after,  Maquioa   inrormed  me  that 
there  had  been  a  mcetiug  of  his  chiefs,  in  which  it 
had  been  determined,  that  as  I  had  married  one  of 
their  women,  I  must  be  considered  as  one  of  them, 
and  conform  to  their  customs,  and  that  in  future, 
neither  myself  nor  Thompson  should  wear  our  Eu* 
ropean  clothes,  but  dress  in  Kutsaks  like  them- 
selves.    This  order  was  to  tne  most  painful,  but  I 
persuaded  Maquina,  at  length,  so  far  to  relax  in 
it  as  to  permit  me  to  wear  those  1  had  at  present, 
which  were  almost   worn  out,  and  not  to  compel 
Thomp-^on  to  change  his  drtss,  observing,  that  as 
he  was  an  old  ma:i,  such  a  change  would  cause  his 
death. 

•  .    .   *•    P      • 


'} 


It 


162 


/' : , 


Their  religions  celebration,  which  the  last  year 
took  place  in  December,  was  in  this  commenced  on 
the  15th  of  November,  and  continued  for  fourteen 
days.  As  I  was  now  considered  as  one  of  themi 
instead  of  being  ordered  to  the  woods,  Maqoina 
directed  Thompson  and  myself  to  remain,  and  pray 
with  them  to  Quahootze  to  be  good  to  them,  and 
thank  him  for  what  he  had  done. 


.(< 


It  was  opened  in  much  the  same  manner  as  the 
former.    After  which,  all  the  men  and  women  in 
the  village  assembled  at  Maquina*s. house,  in  their 
plainest  dresses,  and  without  any  kind  of  ornaments 
about  them,  having  their  heads  bound  around  with 
the  red  fillet,  a  token  of  dejection  and  humiliation, 
and  their  countenances  expressive  of  seriousness  and 
melancholy.     The  performances  during  the  conti- 
Daance  of  this  celebration,  consisted  almost  wholly 
in  singing  a  number  of  songs  to  mournful  airs,  the 
king  regulating  the  time  by  beating  on  his  hollow 
plank  or  drum,  accompanied  by  one  of  his  chiefs, 
seated  near  him  with  the  great  rattle.     In  the  mean 
time,  they  eat  but  seldom,  and  then  very  little, 
retiring  to  sleep  late,  and  rising  at  the  first  appear- 
ance of  dawn,  ayd  even   interrupting  this  short 
period  of  repose,  by  getting   up  at  midnight  and 
singing.  _     .,^    ^^x 


The  ceremony  was  terminated  by  an  exhibition 
of  a  similar  character  to  the  one  of  the  last  year. 


163 

but  atill  more  cruel.    A  boy  of  twelve  years  old, 
with  six  bayonets  r>  l  iato  his  flesh,  one  through 
each  arm  and  thigh,  and  tWoiig^h  each  side  close 
to  the  ribs,  was  carried  around  the  room,  suspended 
upon  them,  without  manifttting  any  symptoms  gf 
.pain.     Maquioa,  on  my  enquiring  the  reason  of 
this  display,  informed  me  thai  it  was  an  ancient 
custom  of  his  nation,  to  sacrifice  a  man  at  the  close 
of  this  solemnity f  in  honour  of  their  God,  but  that 
his  father  had  abolished  it,  and*  substituted  this 
in  Its   place.      The  whole    closed  on   the   even- 
ing of   the    29th,   with  a  great  feast  pf   salmon 
ipawn  and  oil,  at  which  the  natives,  as  usual, 
made  up  for  their  late  abstinence. 

A  few  days  afler,  a   circumstance   occurred, 
which,    from  its  slngtiUvity,    I.  cannot    forbear 
mentioning^     I  was  sent  for  by  my  neighbour 
YeaUhloweri  the  king's  elder  brother,  \o  file  his 
teethe  which  operation  having  performed,  he  in- 
formed  Bie^   that  a  new  wife,  whom  he  had  a 
Uttle  time  before  purchased,    having  refused   to 
sleep  with  him,  it  was  his  intention,  provided  she 
persisted  in  her  refusal,  to  bite  off  her  nose.     I 
endeavoured  to  dissuade  him  from  it,  but  he  was 
determined,    and    in  fact,    performed   his  savage 
threat  that  very  night,  saying  that  since  she  would 
not  be  his  wife,  she  should  not  be  that  of  any  other, 
and  in  the  morning  sent  her  back  to  her  father. 


. 


!i' 


164 


This  inhunaaa  act  did  oof,  however,  proceed 
from  any  innate  cruelty  of  dispositioo,  or  malice, 
as  he  was  far  from  being  of  a  barbaroas  temper; 
but  such  is  the  despotifni  exercised  by  these  savages 
over  their  women,  that  I  e  no  doubt  considered  it 
as  a  just  punishment  for  her  offence,  in  being  so 
obstinate  and  perverse;  as  he  aftcTwards  told  me, 
that  in  similar  cases,  the  husband  had  a  right, 
with  iiiem,  to  disfigure  his  wife  in  this  way,  or 
soiTie  other,  to  prevent  her  ever  marrying  again. 


.1  *' 


:   ^ 


\'j 


'H\ 


f  r:'i 


€ 


Iv  n 


About  the  middle  of  December,  we  left  Tashees 
for  Cooptee.  As  usual  at  this  season,  we  found 
the  herrings  in  great  plenty,  and  here  the  same 
scene  of  riotous  feasting  that  I  witnessed  fast  year, 
was  renewed  by  our  improvident  natives,  who,  in 
addition  to  their  nsnal  fare,  had  a  plentiful  supply 
of  wfld  geese,  which  were  brought  us  in  great  quan- 
tities by  the  Esquotes.  These,  as  Maquina  in- 
formed me,  were  caught  with  nets  made  from  bark, 
in  the  fresh  waters  of  that  country.  Those  who 
take  them,  make  choice  for  that  purpose,  of  a  dark 
and  rainy  night,  and  with  their  canoes  stuck  with 
lighted  torches,  proceed  with  as  little  noise  as  pos- 
sible, to  the  place  where  the  geese  are  collected, 
who,  dazzled  by  the  light,  suffer  themselves  to 
be  approached  very  near,  when  the  net  is  thrown 
over  them,  and  in  this  manner,  from  fifty  to  sixty, 
or  even  more,  will  sometimes  be  taken  at  one 
cast. 


"•lit 


165  '   / 

Oa  the  15th  of  Janattry,  1805,  about  midnight, 
I  was  throvva  into  coosiderable  a'larm,  in  conse- 
qaeace  of  ao  eclipse  of  the  mooa,  being  awakened 
from  my  sleep  by  a  great  outcry  of  the  inhabitants. 
On  going  to  discover  the  cause  of  this  tumult,  I 
found  them  all  out  of  their  houses,  bearing  lighted 
torches,  sieging  and  beating  upon  pieces  of  plank, 
and  when  I  asked  them  the  reason  of  this  proceed- 
ing, they  pointed  to  th^  moon,  and  said  thct  a 
great  cod-fish  was  endeavouring  to  swallow  her, 
and  that  they  were  driving  him  away.  The  origin 
of  this  superstition  I  coukl  not  discover. 

Though,  iff  some  respects,  my  situation  was 
rendered  more  comfortable  since  my  marriage,  as 
I  lived  in  more  cleanly  manner,  and  bad  my  food 
better  and  more  neatly  cooked,  of  wkiich,  besides, 
I  had  always  a  plenty,  my  slaves  generally  fur- 
nishing me,  and  Upquesta  never  failing  to  send  me,  an 
ample  supply  by  the  canoes  that  came  from  A-i-tiz- 
zart;  still,  from  my  beipg  obliged  at  this  season 
of  the  year,  to  change  my  accustomed  clothing, 
and  to  dress  like  the  natives,  with  only  a  piece  of 
cloth  of  about  two  yards  long,  thrown  loosely 
around  me,  my  European  clothes  having  been  for 
some  time  entirely  worn  out,  I  suffered  more  than 
I  can  express  from  the  cold,  especially  as  I  was 
compelled  to  perform  the  laborious  task  of  cutting 
and  bringing  the  fire  wood,  which  was  rendered 
still  more  oppressive  to  me,  from  my  comrade,  fur 

P  3 


:Si 


i! 

:li 


«i 


'<S 


>     I! 


166 

a  considerable  part  of  the  winter,  not  having  it  in 
his  power  to  lend  me  his  aid,  in  consequence  of  a:^ 
attack  of  the  rheamatism  in  one  of  his  knees,  with 
which  he  suffered  for  more  than  four  months,  two 
or  three  weeks  of  which,  he  was  so  ill  as  to  be  un- 
der the  necessity  to  leave  the  house. 


t'  ^ 
u 


*■) 
'    .1 


':i , '  ii 


.'J 


U. 


:  k. 


\ 


This  state  of  suffering,  with  the  little  hope  I 
now  had  of  ever  ^^rs^aping  from  the  savages,  began 
to  rrnder  vi  V  If'  'k>  jme  tr  me,  sill,  however,  I 
lost  not  nry  'i  nr^wvi^^'^nce  in  the  aid  of  the  Supreme 
Being,  to  whom,  ^enever  the  weather  and  a 
suspension  from  the  tasks  imposed  on  me,  wonid 
permit,  I  never  failed  regularly,  on  Sundays,  to 
retire  to  the  wood  to  worship,  taking  Thompson 
with  me  when  he  was  able  to  go. 

On4he  20tb  of  Febraary,  we  returned  to  our 
summer  quartehi  at  Nootka,  but  on  my  part, 
with  far  different  sensations  than  the  last  spring, 
being  now  almost  in  despair  of  any  vessel  arriving 
to  release  u&,  or  our  being  permitted  to  depart  if 
there  should. — Soon  after  o«r  return,  as  prep^ara- 
tory  to  the  wbalilig  season,  Maquina  ordered  aie  to 
make  a  good  number  of  barpoons  for  bimfelf  and 
his  chiefs,  several  of  which  I  had  completed  with 
gome  lances,  when  on  the  16th  of  March,  I  was 
taken  very  ill  with  a  violent  cholic,  caused,  I  pre- 
sume, from  having  suffered  so  much  from  the  cold, 
in  going  withont  proper  clothing.    For  a  nnmber  of 


167 


houra  I  was  in  great  pain,  and  expected  to  die, 
and  on  its  leaving  me,  I  was  so  weak  as  scarcely 
to  be  able  to  stand,  while  I  had  nothing  comforting 
to  take,  nor  any  thing  to  drink  but  cold  water. 


On  ilie  day  following,  a  slave  belonging  to  Ma- 
quina  died,  and  was  ir  naediately,  as  is  their  cos- 
;om  in  sjch  cases,  tossed  unceremoniously  out  of 
doors^  tron  whence  he  wa»  taken  by  some  others,  and 
thrown  into  the  water.  The  treatment  of  this  poor 
creature  made  a  melancholy  inipression  upon  ray 
mind,  as  i  could  not  but  think,  that  such  proba- 
bly, would  be  my  fate  should  I  die  amOi../;  t-  -^se 
heathens,  and  so  far  from  receiving  a  decer.  bu  J, 
that  I  should  not  even  be  allowed  thv.  roimon 
privilege  of  having  a  little  earth  throwr  ovor  my 
lemainck 
J 

The  feebleness  in  which  the  violent  attack  of 
my  disorder  had  left  me,  the  dejection  I  felt  at  the 
almost  hopelessness  of  my  situation,  and  the  want 
of  warm  clothing  and  proper  nursing,  though  my 
Indian  wife,  as  far  as  she  knew  how,  was  always 
ready,  even  solicitous,  to  do  every  thing  for  me 
she  could,  still  kept  me  very  much  indisposed, 
which  Maquina  perceivings  he  finally  told  me, 
that  if  I  did  not  like  living  with  my  wife,  and  that 
was  the  cause  of  my  being  so  sad,  I  might  part  with 
her.  This  proposal  I  readily  accepted,  and  the 
next  day  Maquina  sent  her  back  to  her  father. 


I 


pi  I ; 


li 


41 


22 


1^ 


168 

Ob  parting  wilh  me,  she  dUcovered  mach  emo- 
tlon,  baggiug  me  that  I  woald  suffer  her  to  remaiu 
till  I  had  recovered,  at  there  was  do  ooe  who 
would  take  so  good  care  of  me  as  herself.  But 
wheu  I  told  her  she  must  go,  for  that  I  did  not 
think  I  should  ever  get  well,  which  in  tiuth  I  but 
little  expected,  and  that  her  father  wosid  take 
good  care  of  her,  and  treat  her  much  more  kindly 
than  Maquina,  she  took  an  affectionate  leave, 
telling  me  that  she  hoped  I  should  soon  get  better, 
and  left  her  two  slaves  to  take  care  of  me* 

.  1 '  '    -      J 1  - .  ■    •  ■         /  -    5.';    <>•' 

Though  I  rejoiced  at  her  departure,  I  was 
greatly  affected  with  the  simple  expressions  of  her 
regard  for  me,  and  could  not  bat  feel  strongly 
interested  for  this  poor  girl,  who  in  all  her  conduct 
towards  me,  had  discovered  so  much  mi)dne««,  and 
attention  to  my  wishes;  and  had  it  not  been  that  I 
eonsidered  her  as  an  almost  insuperable  obstacle  to 
my  being  permitted  to  leave  the  country,  I  should 
no  doubt  have  felt  the  deprivation  of  her  soetcty  a 
real  loss»  After  her  departure,  1  requested  Maquis 
na,  that,  as  I  had  parted  with  my  wife,  he  would 
permit  me  to  resume  my  European  dress,  at,  other* 
wise,  from  not  having  been  accustomed  to  dress  like 
them,  I  should  certainly  die.  To  this  he  consented, 
and  I  once  more  became  comfortably  clad. 

7?    ■ 

Change  of  clothing,  hut  more  than  all,  the  hopes 
which  I  now  began  to  indnlge,  that  in  the  €oaffe<^ 


lopes 


the  summer  I  shoal  J  be  able  to  escape,  in  a  short 
lime  restored  me  to  health,  so  far,  that  I  could 
again  go  to  work  in  making  harpoons  for  Alaquina, 
who  probably,  fearing  that  he  should  have  to  part 
with  me,  determined  to  provide  himself  with  a  good 
stock. 

tit 

I  shall  not,  however,  long  detain  the  reader  with 
a  detail  of  occurrences  that  intervened  between  this 
period,  and  that  of  my  escape,  which,  from  that 
dull  uniformity  tliut  marks  the  savage  life,  would  b« 
in  a  measure,  but  a  repetition,  nor  dwell  upon 
that  mental  torture  I  endured,  from  a  constai^t 
oonflict  of  hope  and  fear,  when  the  former,  almost 
wearied  out  with  repeatpd  dtsHppointment,  offered 
to  our  sinking  hearts  no  prospect  of  release,  but 
death,  to  which  we  were  constantly  exposed  from 
the  brutal  ignorance  and  savage  disposition  of  tiie 
common  people,  who  in  the  various  councils  that 
were  held  this  season  to  determine  what  to  do  with 
Ha,  in  case  of  the  arrival  of  a  ship,  were  almost 
always  for  putting  us  to  death,  expecting  by  that 
means  to  conceal  the  murder  of  our  crew,  and  to 
throw  the  blame  of  it  on  some  other  tribe  These 
barbarous  sentiments  were,  however,  universally 
opposed  by  Maquina  and  his  chiefs,  who  would 
not  consent  to  our  being  injured.  But  as  some  of 
their  customs  and  traits  of  national  character, 
which  I  think  deserving  of  notice,  have  not  been 


I  ^  I 

i 


W 


ill* 


l'« 


V 


170 

mentioned,   I  shall  proceed  to  give  an  accoant  of 
theoi. 

The  oiBce  of  king  ur  chiefs  if,  with  those  people, 
hereditary,  and  descends  to  the  eldest  son,  or  in 
failure  of  male  issue,  to  the  elder  brother,  who  in 
the  regal  line,  is  considered  as  the  second  person  in 
the  kingdom.     At  feasts,  as  I  have  observed,  the 
king  is  always  placed  in  the  highest,  or  seat  of  hon* 
our,  and  the  chiefs  according  to  their  respective 
ranks,  which  appear,  in  general,  to  be  determined 
by  their  afi&nity  to  the  royal  family,  they  are  also 
designated  by  the  embellishments  of  their  mantles, 
or  Kutsaks.     The  king,  or  head  Tyee,  is  their 
leader  in  war,  m  \i»  nMuiA«:emeDt  of  which  he  is 
perfectly  absolute.     He  ia  also  president  of  their 
councils,  which  are  almost  alwaya  regulated  by  his 
opinion.    But  he  has  no  kind  of  power  over  the 
property  of  his  subjects,  nor  can  be  require  them 
to  contribute  to  his  wants,  being  in  this  respect,  no 
more  privileged  than  any  etiier  person.     He  has  in 
common  with  his  chiefs,  the  right  of  holding  shivesi 
which  is  not  enjoyed  by  private  individuals,  a  regn* 
lation  probably  arising  fron  their  having  been  orig'- 
Daily  captives  taken  in  battle,  the  spoils  of    war 
being  understood  as  appertaining  to  the  king,  who 
receives  and  apportions  them  among  his  several 
chiefs  and  warriors,  according  to  their  vmA  and  de- 
serts. 


171 


In  coDformity  with  this  idea,  the  plunder  of  the 
Bostoo,  was  all  deposited  io  Maquioa'd  house,  who 
distributed  part  of  it  tmong  his  chiefs,  accordinj^  to 
their  respective  ranks  or  degree  of  favour  with  him, 
giving  to  one,  three  hundred  muskets,  to  anothc^r, 
one  hundred  and  fifty,  with  other  things  in  like 
proportion.  The  king  is,  however,  obliged  to  sup- 
port  bis  dignity  by  making  frequent  entertainments, 
and  whenever  he  receives  a  large  supply  of  previ- 
sion, he  must  invite  all  the  men  of  his  tribe  to  his 
house,  to  eat  it  up,  otherwise,  as  Maquina  told  me, 
he  would  not  be  consider  as  conducting  like  a 
Tyee,  and  would  be  no  more  thought  of  than  a 
common  man. 


With  regard  to  their  religion — They  believe  in 
the  existence  of  a  Supreme  Being,  whom  they  call 
Qtiahootze^  and  who,  to  use  Maquina's  expression, 
was  one  great  Tyee  in  the  sky,  who  gave  them  their 
fith,  and  could  tfi  ke  them  from  them,  and  was  the 
greatest  of  ail  kin;;?.  .Their  usual  place  of  worship, 
ap>>eared  to  he  the  water,  for  whenever  they  bathed, 
ihey  addrt'Ssed  some  words  in  form  of  prayer  to  the 
God  above,  intreating  that  he  would  preserve  them 
in  health,  give  them  good  success  in  fishing,  &c. 
These  pra  ers  were  repeated,  with  much  more  ener- 
gy, on  preparing  for  wbaiing  or  for  war  as  I  have 
already  mentioned.  .  ,^  • 

Some  of  them  would  sometimes  go  several  imlnF 


I 


i1 

H 


172 


II 


h 


lit. 


''•.:  w 


;f'  'd: 


I*. 
6'': 


to  baihe,  io  order  to  do  it  in  secret;  the  reason  for 
this  I  could  never  learn,  though  I  am  induced  to 
think  it  was  in  consequence  of  some  family  or  pri-^ 
vate  quarrel,  and  that  they  did  not  wish  what  they 
said  to  be  heard;  while  at  other  times,  they  would 
repair  in  the  same  secret  manner,  to  the  woods,  to 
pray.  This  was  more  particularly  the  case  with 
the  women,  who  might  also,  have  been  prompted  by 
a  sentiment  of  decency,  to  retire  for  the  purpose  of 
bathing,  as  they  Are  remarkably  modest. 

I 

I  once  found  one  of  our  women  more  than  two 
miles  from  the  village,  on  her  knees  in  the  woods, 
with  her  eyes  shut,  and  her  face  turned  towards 
heaven,  ottering  words  in  a  lamentable  tone,  among 
which  I  distinctly  heard,  H'ocash  Ah-welth*  mean- 
ing good  Lord,  and  which  has  nearly  the  same 
signification  with  Quahootze.  Though  ]  came 
very  near  her,  she  appeared  not  to  notice  me,  but 
continued  her  devotions,  and  I  have  frequently  seen 
the  wdhien  go  alone  into  the  woods,  evidently  for 
the  purpose  of  addressing  themselves  to  a  superior 
being,  and  it  was  always  very  perceptible  on  their 
return,  when  they  had  been  thus  employed,  from  ^ 
their  silence  and  melancholy  looks.  ' '  . 

'"  They  have  no  belief,  however,  in  a  state  of  fu- 
ture existence,  as  I  discovered,  in  conversation 
with  Maquina,  at  Tootoosch^s  death,  on  my  at- 
Xer  ^.ting  to  convince  him  that  he  still  existed,  and 


173 

that  he  would  agaio  see  him  after  bis  death :  bnt 
he  could  comprehend  nothing  of  it,  aud  poiuting 
to  the  ground,  said,  that  there  was  the  end  of  him, 
and  that  he  was  like  that.  Nor  do  they  believe  in 
gho8t8,  notwithstanding  the  case  of  Tootoosch 
would  appear  to  contradict  this  assertion,  but  that 
was  a  remarkable  instance,  and  such  a  one  as  had 
never  been  known  to  occur  before;  yet  from  the 
mummeries  performed  over  the  sick,  it  is  very 
apparent  that  they  believe  in  the  agency  of  spirits, 
as  they  attribute  diseases  to  some  evil  one  that  has 
entered  the  body  of  the  patient.  Neither  have 
they  any  priests,  unless  a  kind  of  conjurer  may  he 
so  considered,  who  sings  and  prays  over  the  sick, 
to  dr.ve  away  the  evil  spirit. 


1 


On  the  birth  of  twins,  they  have  a  most  singular 
custom,  which,  I  presume,  has  its  origin  in  some 
religious  opinion,  but  what  it  is,  I  could  never  . 
satisfactorily  learn.  The  father  is  prohibited  for  the 
space  of  two  years  from  eating  any  kind  of  meat,  or 
fresh  fish,  during  which  time,  he  does  no  kltid  of 
labour  whatever,  being  supplied  with  what  he  has 
occasion  for  from  the  tribe.  In  the  mean  time,  he 
and  his  wife,  who  is  also  obliged  to  conform  to  the 
seme  abstinence,  wi(h  their  children,  live  entirely 
separate  from  the  others,  a  smaH  hut  being  built  ' 
for  their  accommodation,  and  he  is  never  inviied  to 
any  of  the  feasts,  except  such  as  consist  wholly  of 
dried  provision,  where  he   is  treated   witu   g^-uc 


U 


[ 


I 


''M'^m 


1  >'  1 


^1 


^  mi 


y|j; 


i:-  'I 


4  1   j  I'l 


k'M 


174 

respect,  and  aeated  among  the  chiefs,  though  no 
more  himself  than  a  private  individual. 

Such  births  are  very  rare  among  them ;  an  iq- 
stance  of  the  kind,  however,  occurred  while  I  was 
at  Tashees  the  last  time,  but  it  was  the  only  one 
known  since  the  reign  of  the  former  king.  The  fa« 
ther  always  appeared  very  thoughtful  and  gloomy ^ 
never  associated  with  the  other  inhabitants,  and  was 
at  none  of  the  feasts,  but  such  as  were  entirely  of  dried 
provision,  and  of  this,  he  eat  not  to  excess,  and  con* 
stantly  retired  before  the  amusements  commenced. 
His  dress  was  very  plain,  and  he  wore  around  his  head 
the  red  fillet  of  bark,  the  symbol  of  mourning  and 
,  devotion.  It  was  his  daily  practice  to  repair  to  the 
mountain,  with  a  chiefs  rattle  in  his  hand,  to  sing 
and  pray,  as  Ma((uina  informed  me,  for  the  fish 
to  come  into  their  waters.  When  not  thus  em- 
ployed, he  kept  continually  at  home,  except  when 
sent  for  to  sing  and  perform  his  ceremonies  over  the 
sick,  being  considered  as  a  sacred  character,  and 
one  much  in  favour  with  their  gods. 

These  people  are  remarkably  healthful,  and  live 
to  a  very  advanced  age,  having  quite  a  youthful 
appearance  for  their  years.  They  have  scarcely 
any  disease  but  the  cholic,  their  remedy  for  which 
is  friction,  a  person  rubbing  the  bowels  of  the  sick 
violently,  until  the  pain  has  subsided,  while  the 
conjuror,  or  holy  man  ii  e^  ^^oyed,  in  the  mean 


17o 


time,  io  making  his  gestures,  singing,  and  repeating 
certain  words,  and  blowing  off  the  evil  spirit,  when 
the  patient  is  wrapped  apin  a  bear  skin,  in  order  to 
prod  nee  perspiration. 


I 


Their  cure  for  the  rheamatism,  or  similar  pains, 
which  I  saw  applied  by  Maqulna,  In  the  cato  of 

.  ThompioD,  to  whom  it  gave  relief,  is  by  catting  or 
•carifyiog  the  part  affected.  In  dressing  wounds, 
they  aimply  wash  them  with  salt  water,  and  bii4 

*  them  up  with  a  strip  of  cloth,  or  the  bark  of  a  tree* 
They  are,  however,  very  expert  and  sunce^fQl 
Id  the  care  of  fractured  or  dislocated  limbs,  reducing 
them  very  dexterously,  and  after  binding  them  up 
with  bark,  supporting  them  with  blocks  of  wood, 
80  as  to  preserve  their  position. 


During  the  whole  time  I  was  among  them,  but 
five  natural  deaths  occurred,  Tootoosch  and  his 
two  infant  children,  an  infant  bon  of  Maquina,  aud 
the  slave  whom  I  have  mentioned,  a  circumstance 
not  a  little  remarkable  in  a  po^  alation  of  about 
fifteen  hundrecU  and  as  respects  child-birth,  so 
light  do  they  make  of  it,  that  I  have  seen  their 
women  the  day  after,  employed  as  usual,  as  if 
little  or  nothing  had  happened. 


I 


: 
1 
1  <l 


^•^  The  Nootkians  in  their  conduct  towards  each 
other,  are  in  general  pacific  and  inoffensive,  and 
appear  by  no  means  an  ill  tempered  race,  for  I  do 

Q  2 


176 


not  recollect  any  instance  of  a  violent  quarrel  be- 
tween any  of  the  man,  or  the  men  and  their  wives, 
while  I  was  with  them,  that  of  Yealthlower,  except- 
ed.     But  when  they  are  in  the  least  offended,  they 
appear  to  be  in  the  most  violent  ra^^e,  acting  like  so 
inany   maniacs,    foaming    at  the*  mouth,*   kickiog 
and  spitting  most  furiously ;  but  this  is  rather  a 
-  fashion  with  them,  than  a  demonstration  of  malig- 
,  nity,  as  in  their  public  speeches,  they  nse  the  8ani4$ 
violence,  and  he  is  esteemed  the  greatest  orator, 
'  who  bawls  the  loudest,    stamps,    tosses    himself 
about)  fo&ms  and  spits  the  most. 


'li 


m 

Vn  ,.1 


ti 


In  speaking  of  their  regulations,  I  have  omitted 
liientioning,  thai  on  attaining  the  age  of  jeventeen, 
the  eldest  son  of  a  chief,  is  considered  as  a  chief  Jiim- 
self,  and  that  whenever  the  father  makes  a  present, 
it  is  always  done  in  the  name  of  his  eldest  son,  or  if 
he  has  none,  in  that  of  his  daughter.  The  chiefj, 
frequently  purchase  their  wives  at  the  age  of  eight 
or  ten,  to  prevent  their  being  engaged  by  otiiers, 
though^  they  do  not  take  them  from  their  parents  uu« 
til  they  are  sixteen* 

.  ,  .  ...      .    '..  .:""•'  ■  ■■  '"^^-'^  : -  '  -y  *'  " 

With  regard  to  climate,  the  greater  part  of  the 
spring,  summer,  and  autumn,  i*  very  pleasant,  the 
weather  being  at  no  time  oppressively  ho*,  and  the 
viators  uncommonly  mild,  for  so  high  a  latitude, 
at  le?  ;t  as  iar  as  my  experience  went.  At  Tashees 
iinii    Cui.f'tr e,    where   Xve  passed   the  coldest  part 


'  if 


17T 


of  the  cieason,  the  winter  did  not  get  ia  till  late  in 
December,  nor  have  I  ever  known  the  ice,  even  on 
the  fresh  water  ponds,  more  than  two  or  three 
inches  in  thickness,  or  a  snow  exceeding  four  inches 
in  depth,  bat  what  is  wanting  in  snow,  is  amply 
made  up  in  rain,  as  I  have  frequently  known  it 
daring  the  winter  months,  rain  almost  incessantly 
for  five  or  six  days  in  succession. 


i  I    : 


It  was  novi^  past  midsummer,  and  the  hopes  we 
had  indulged  of  our  release,  became  daily  more 
faint,  for  though  we  had  heard  of  no  less  than  seven 
vessels  on  the  coast,  yet  none  appeared  inclined  to 
venture  to  Nootka.  The  destruction  of  the  Bos- 
ton, the  largest,  strongest,  and  best  equipped  ship, 
with  the  most  valuable  cargo  of  any  that  had  ever 
been  fitted  for  the  North  West  trade,  had  inspired 
the  commanders  of  others  with  a  general  dread  of 
coming  thither,  lest  they  should  share  the  same 
fate;  and  though  in  the  letters  I  wrote  (imploring 
those  who  should  receive  them,  to  come  to  the  re- 
lief of  two  unfortunate  Christians  who  were  sv  er- 
ing  among  heathen)  I  stated  the  cause  of  the  as- 
ton^s  capture,  and  that  there  was  not  the  leah  au- 
ger in  coming  to  Nootka,  provided  they  wou  fol- 
low the  directions  I  laid  down,  still  I  felt  ve  little 
encouragement,  that  any  of  these  letters  would 
come  to  hand,  when  on  the  morning  of  the  uloe- 
teenth  of  July,  a  day  that  will  be  ever  held  by  me 
in  grateful  remembrance,  of  the  mercies  of  God^ 

Q    3 


1 


ii 


1T8 


|l^     ^*'    I    mI 


while  I  was  employ*  d  with  Thompsoo  in  forging 
daggers  for  the  king,  my  ears  were  saluted  with 
the  joyful  sound  of  tijree  caDDoo,  and  the  cries  of 
the  inhabitants,  exclaiming,  Weena,  weena — Ma- 
methlee — that  is,  strangers — white  men. 

Soon  after  several  of  our  people,  came  running 
into  the  house,  to  iuform  me  that  a  vessel  under  full 
sail  was  coming  into  the^  harbour*  Though  my 
heart  bounded  with  joy^  I  repressed  my  feelings, 
and  affecting  to  pay  no  attention  to  what  was  said, 
told  Thompson  to  be  on  bis  guard,  and  not  betray 
any  joy,  as  our  release,  and  perhaps  our  lives, 
depended  on  our  conducting  ourselves  so  as  to  in- 
duce the  natives  to  suppose  we  were  not  very 
anxious  to  leave  them*  We  continued  our  work 
as  if  nolhiag  Iiad  happened,  when  in  a  few  minutes 
after,  Maquin&  came  in,  and  seeing  us  at  work, 
appeared  much  surprised,  and  asked  me  if  I  did 
not  know  that  a  vessel  had  come.  I  answered  in 
a  careless  manner,  that  it  was  nothing  to  me.  How, 
John,  said  he,  you  no  glad  go  board.  I  replied 
that  I  cared  very  little  about  it,  as  I  had  become 
reconciled  to  their  manner  of  living,  and  had  no 
wish  to  go  away^  He  then  told  me,  that  he  had 
called  a  council  of  his  people  respecting  us, 
and  that  we  must  leave  off  work  and  be  present 
at  it. 


The  men  having  assembled  at  Maquina^s  house; 


179 

he  asked  tliem  what  was  their  opiuion  should  he 
done  with  ThoLnpson  and  myself,  now  a  vessel  had 
arrived,  and  whether  he  had  not  better  go  on  board 
himself,  to  make  a  trade,  and  procure  such  articles 
as  were  wanted.  Each  one  of  the  tribe  who  wished, 
gave  his  opinion.  Some  were  for  putting  us  to 
death,  and  pretending  to  the  strangers,  that  a  dif- 
ferent nation  had  cut  off  the  Boston,  while  others, 
less  barbarous,  were  for  sending  us  fifteen  or  twen- . 
ty  miles  back  into  the  country,  until  the  departure 
af  the  vessel.  These,  however,  were  the  senti- 
ments of  the  common  people,  the  chiefs  opposing 
our  being  put  to  death,  or  injured,  and  several 
of  them,  among  the  most  forward  of  whom  were 
Yael^.hlower  and  the  young  chief,  ToowinnakiU' 
nish,  were  for  immediately  releasior  ^^  > ;  but  this,^ 
if  he  could  avoid  it,  by  no  means  appeared  to  ac- 
cord with  Maquina^s  wishes. 


Having  mentioned  Toowinnakinnish,  I  shall 
briefly  observe,  that  he  was  a  young  man  of  about 
twenty-three  years  old,  the  only  son  of  Toopee- 
shottee,  the  oldest  and  most  respected  chief  of  the 
tribe.  His  sou  had  always  been  remarkably  kind 
and  friendly  tor  me,  and  I  httA  in  return  frequently 
made  for  him  daggers,  cheetoolths,  and  other 
things,  ia  my  best  manner.  He  was  one  of  the 
handsomest  men  among  them,  very  amiable,  and 
much  milder  in  his  manners  than  any  of  the  others, 
as  well  as  neater  both  m  bis  person  and  house,  at 


M'l 


I  ! 


k  'I'   i 


.  180 

least  his  apartment,  without  even  excepting  Ma- 

quma. 

• 
With  regard,  however,  to  Maquioa^s  going  on 

board  the  vessel,  which  he  discovered   a  strong 
inclination  to  do,  there  was  but  one  opinion,  all 
remonstrating   against  it,    telling    him    that   the 
captain  would  kill  him  or   keep  him  prisoner,  in 
consequence    of  his  haviug   destroyed    our  ship. 
When  Maquina  had  heard  their  opinions,  he  told 
tLcm  that  he  was  not  afraid  of  being  hurt  from 
going  on  board  the    vessel,   but  that  he   would, 
however,  as  it  respected  that,  be  guided  by  John, 
w'lon  lie  had  always  found  true.     He  then  turned 
to  tne,  and  asked  me  if  1  thought  there  would  be 
any  danger  in  his  going  on  board.     I  answered, 
i 'lat  I  was  not  surprised  at  the  advice  his  people 
had  given  him,  unacquainted  as  they  were  with  the 
manners  of  the  white  men,  and  judging  them  by 
their  own,  >at  if  they  had  been  with  them  as  much 
as  I  had,  or  even  himself,  they  would  think  very 
different.     That  he  had  almost  always  experienced 
good  and  civil   treatment  frojin  them,  nor  bad  he 
any  reason  to  fear  the  contrary  now,  as  they  never 
attempted  to  harm  tho<e  who  did  not  injure  them, 
and  if  he  wished  to  go  on  board,  he  might  do  it, 
in  my  opinion  with  security.  , 

After  reflectiog  a  few   moments,  he  said,  with 
much  apparent  satiflfactipu,  that  if  1  would  write 


*i 


m 


*  18J 

a  letter  to  the  captain,  telling  him  good  of  him, 
that  he  had  treated  Thompson  and  myself  kindly 
since  we  had  been  with  bim,  and  to  use  him  well, 
he  would  go.  It  may  easily  be  supposed  that  I 
felt  much  joy  at  this  determination,  but  knowing 
that  the  least  incaution  might  annihilate  all  my 
hopes  of  escape,  wai  careful  not  to  maiufest  it, 
and  to  treat  his  going  or  staying  as  a  matter  perfect- 
ly indifferent  to  me.  I  told  him  that  if  he  wished 
me  to  write  such  a  letter,  I  had  no  objection,  as 
it  was  the  truth,  otherwise  I  could  not  have  done 
it. 


V  :♦ 


I  then  proceeded  to  write  the  recommendatory 
letter,  which  the  reader  will  naturally  imagine  wai 
of  a  somewhat  different  tenor  from  the  one  he  had 
required;  for  if  deception  is  in  any  case  warrantable, 
it  was  certainly  so  in  a  situation  like  our^s,  where 
the  only  chance  of  regaining  that  freedom  of  which 
we  had  been  so  unjustly  deprived,  depended  upon 
it ;  and  I  trust  that  few,  even  of  the  most  rigid, 
will  condemn  me  with  severity  for  making  use  of  it, 
on  an  occasion  which  afforded  me  the  only  hope  of 
ever  more  beholding  a  Christian  country,  and  pre- 
serving myself,  if  not  from  death,  at  least  from  a 
life  of  continued  suffering. , 


4th 
[rite 


The  letter  which  I  wrote,  was  nearly  in  the  ioh 
lowing  terms  : — 


I  i  V 


182 


To  CaiUain  - 


of  the  Brig 


"  Nootka^  July  19,  1805. 


Sir, 


The  bearer  of  this  letter  is  the  lodian  king  by  the 
name  of  Maquioa.  lie  was  (he  instigator  of  the 
capture  of  the  ship  Dostod,  of  BoitoUt  In  North 
America,  Joha  Salter  captain,  and  of  the  murder 
of  twenty  five  men  of  her  crew,  the  two  only  lur- 
vivu^s  being  now  on  shore — Wherefore  I  hope  you 
will  take  care  to  confine  him  according  to  his  merits, 
putting  in  your  dead-lights,  and  keeping  so  -good  a 
watch  over  hv:c.^  t.'.ut  (no  m-.s.ai  ccuipe  from  you» 
By  so  doing  Me  shall  bt  ahU  to  obtain  oar  relcas* 
In  the  course  of  a  few  hours. 

John  R.  Jewitt,  Armourer  of.  the  BosfoPy 

for  himself y  and 

:    John  Thompson,  SaiUmaker  if  the  said  sh^. 


1  have  been  asked  how  I  dared  jto  write  in  this 
manner,  my  answer  is,  that  from  my  long  residence 
among  these  people,  I  knew  that  I  had  little  to  ap- 
prehend from  their  anger  on  hearing  of  their  king 
being  confined,  while  tliey  knew  his  life  depended 
upon  my  release,  and  that  they  would  sooner  hare 
given  up  five  hundied  white  men,  than  have  had 
him  injured.  This  will  serve  to  explain  the  little 
apprehension  I  felt  at  ilis'it  menaces  afterwards, 


183      . 

for  otherwise,  »weei  as  liberty  was  to  me,  I  should 
hardly  have  ventared  oo  so  hazardous  ao  experi* 
meot. 


On  my  giving  the  letter  to  Maqnina,  he  asked 
me  to  explain  it  to  him.  '^"^  I  did  line  by  line,  as 
he  pointed  them  oat  with  his  finger,  but  in  a  sense 
very  different  from  the  reaL  giving  him  to  under- 
stand that  I  had  written  to  the  captain,  that  as  he 
had  been  kind  to  me  since  I  had  been  taken  by  him, 
that  it  was  my  wish  that  the  captain  should  treat  him 
accordingly,  and  give  him  what  mollasses,  biscuit 
and  mm  he  wanted.  When  I  had  finished,  placing  his 
finger  in  a  significant  manner  on  my  name  at  the 
bottom,  and  eyeing  me  with  a  look  that  seemed  to 
read  my  inmost  thoughts,  he  said  to  me,  ^^  Johu' 
yon  no  lie  ?"  Never  did  I  undergo  such  a  scrutiny, 
or  ever  experience  greater  apprehensions  than  I  felt 
at  that  moment,  when  my  destiny  was  suspended 
on  the  slightest  thread,  and  the  least  mark  of  em- 
barrassment on  mine,  or  suspicion  of  treachery  on 
his  past,  would  probably  have  rendered  my  life  the 
sacrifice.  Fortunately  I  was  able  to  preserve  my 
composure,  and  my  being  painted  in  the  Indian 
manner,  which  Maquina  had  ^itice  my  marriage, 
required  of  me,  prevented  any  change  in  my  coun- 
tenance from  being  noticed,  and  I  replied  with  con- 
siderable promtitude,  looking  at  him  in  my  turn, 
with  all  the  confidence  I  could  muster,  '*  VVhy  do 
you  ask  me  such  a  question,  Tyee  ?  have  you  ever 


I ' 


. 


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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


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184 


Pi 


f 


I '' 


>.t 


Ijnovvn  me  to  lie  ?'*   *'  No."    "  Then  how  can  you  , 
suppose  I  should  tell  you  a  lie  now,  siace  I  have 
never  done  it."     As   I  was  speaking,  he  still  con- 
tinued looking  at   me  with  the  8an;e  piercing  eye, 
but  observing  nothing  to  excite  his  suspicion,  he  told 
me  that  he  believed  what  I  said  was  true,  and  that 
he  would  go  on  board,  and  gave  orders  to  get  ready 
his  canoe«     His  chiefs  again  attempted  to  dissuade 
him,  using  every  argument  for  that  purpose,  while 
his  wives  crowded  around   him,  begging  him  on 
their  knees,  not  to  trust   himself  with  the  white 
men.     Fortunately  for  my  companion  and   myself, 
so  strong  was  his  wish  of  going  on  board  the  vesssl, 
that  he  was  deaf  to  their  solicitations.,  and  making 
no  other  reply  to  them,  than,  "  John  no  lie,"  left 
the  house,  taking  four  prime  skins  with  him  as  a 
present  to  the  captain. 


Scarcely  had  the  canoe  put  off,  when  he  ordered 
his  men  to  stop,  and  calling  to  me,  asked  me  if 
I  did  not  want  to  go  on  board  with  him.  Suspect' 
ing  this  as  a  question  merely  intended  to  ensnare 
me,  I  replied  that  I  had  no  wish  to  do  it,  not 
having  any  desire  to  leave  them. 


On  going  on  board  the  brig,  Maquira  imme- 
mediately  gave  his  present  of  skins  and  my  letter 
to  the  captain,  who  on  reading  it,  asked  him  into 
tl  e  cabin,  where  he  gave  him  some  biscuit  and  a  glass 
of  rum,  at  the  same  time,  privately  directing  his 


185 


maie  to  go  forward,  and  retara  with  fi^e  or  six  of 
the  men  armed.  WheL  they  appeared,  the  captaia 
told  Maquipa  that  he  was  his  prisoner,  and  should 
contlntieso,  until*the  (women,  whom  he  knew  to 
be  on  shore,  were  released,  at  the  same  time  order- 
ing him  to  be  put  in  irons,  and  the  windows  secur- 
ed, which  was  instantly  done,  and  a  couple  of  men 
placed  as  a  guard  over  him.  Maquina  was  greatly 
surprised  and  terriGed  at  this  reception  ;  he  howe- 
ver, made  no  attempt  to  resist,  but  requested  the 
captain  to  permit  one  of  his  men  to  come  and  see 
faim.  One  of  them  was  accordingly  called,  and 
Maquina  said  something  to  him  which  the  captain 
did  not  understand,  but  supposed  to  be  an  order  io 
release  us,  when  the  man  returning  to  the  canoe, 
it  was  paddled  off  with  the  utmost  expedition  to  the 
shore.  As  the  canoe  approached,  the  inhabitants, 
who  had  all  collected  upon  the  beach,  manifested 
some  uneasiness  at  not  seeing  their  king  on  board, 
but  when  on  its  arrival,  they  were  told  that  the  cap- 
tain had  made  him  a  prisoner,  and  that  John  had 
spoke  bad  about  him  in  the  letter,  they  all  both  mea 
and  women,  set  up  a  laud  hawl,  and  ran  back- 
wards and  forwards  upon  the  shore  like  so  many  lu- 
natics, scratching  their  faces,  and  tearing  the  hair 
in  handfuls  from  their  heads. 


n 


'  'i 
i 


After  they  had  beat  about  in  this  manner  for  some 
time,  the  men  ran  to  their  huts  for  their  weapons, 
as  if  preparing  to  attack  an  invading  enemy  •,  while 


iW" 


i 


I 


!■'!''  ,t 


J. 

;,: 

:  i. 


til!. 

m 


it 


186 

Maqaioa's  wives  and  the  rest  of  the  womeD,  came 
around  me,  and  throwing  themselves  on  their  knees^ 
begged  me  with  tears  to  spare  his  life,  and  Sat-sat- 
sak-sis,  who  kept  constantly  with  me,  taking  me 
by  the  hand,  wept  bitterly,  and  joined  his  entreaties 
to  theirs,  that  1  wonld  not  let  the  white  men  kill  his 
father.  I  told  them  not  to  afflict  themselves,  that 
Maqaina's  life  was  in  no  danger,  nor  would  the 
least  bann  be  done  to  him.  ; 

.  .,  •  ••  ■-• ,  r^  . 
The  men  were  however,  extremely  exasperated 
with  me,  more  particularly  the  common  people,  who 
oame  mnning  in  the  most  furious  manner  towards 
me,  brandishing  their  weapons,  and  threatening  to 
cut  me  in  pieces  no  bigger  than  their  thumb  nails, 
while  others  declared  they  would  burn  me  alive  o- 
ver  a  slow  fire,  suspended  by  my  heels.  All  this 
fury,  however,  caused  me  but  little  alarm,  a»  K 
felt  convinced  they  would  not  dare  to  execute  their 
threats  while  the  king  was  on  board  the  brig. 

The  chiefs  took  no  part  in  this  violent  conduct, 
but  came  to  me,  and  enquired  the  reason  why 
Maquina  had  been  thus  treated,  and  if  the  captain 
intended  to  kill  him.  I  told  them  that  if  they 
would  silence  the  people,  so  that  I  could  be  beard, 
I  would  explain  all  to  them.  They  immediately 
put  a  stop  to  the  noise,  when  I  informed  them  that 
the  captain,  in  confining  Maquina,  had  done  it 
only  in  order  to  make  them  release  Thompson  and 


187 


,  came 
■  kDeeSt 
3at-8at- 
ing  xne 
treaties 
kill  his 
is,  that 
uld  the 


sperated 
pie,  who 
towards 
ening  to 
nb  nails, 
alive  o- 
All  this 
m,  as  I 
ate  their 

g- 

conduct, 
son  why 
e  captain 

if  they 
)e  heard, 
nediately 
hem  that 

done  it 
ipson  and 


myself,  as  he  well  knew  we  were  with  them,  aod 
if  they  wonld  do  that,  their  king  would  receive  no 
injury,  hot  be  well  treated,  otherwise  be  would  be 
kept  a  prisoner* 

^■:    i,  •-.,•>      ■  -.  ;-V- ■/■.-. .■--^-;.:^-     •:"    "!    ■;*. 

As  many  of  them  did  not  appear  to  be  satisfied 

with  this,    and  began  to   repeat  their  murderous 

threats — Kill   me,    said  I  to  them,  if  it  is  year 

wish,  throwing  open  the  bea.r  skin   which  I  wore, 

here  is  my  breast,  I  am  only  ooe  among  so  many, 

and  can  make  no  reiistaace,  but  unless  you  wish 

to  see  your  king  banging  by  bis  neck  to  that  pole, 

pointing  to  the  yard-arm  of  the  brig,  and  the  sailors 

firing  at  him  wilh  bullets,  yon  will  not  do  it.     O 

no,  was  the  general  cry,  that  m^st  never  be;  but 

what  must  we  do?     I  told  them  that  their  best  plan 

would  be,  to  send  Thompson  on  board,  to  desire 

the  captain  to  nse  Maquina  well  till  I  was  released, 

which  would  be  soon.     This  they  were  perfectly 

willing  to  do,  and  I  directed  Thompson  to  go  on, 

board.     But  he  objected,  saying  that  he  would  not 

leave  me  alone  with  the  savages.     I  told  him  not  to 

be  ander  any  fear  for  me,  for  that  if  I  could  get  him 

off,  I  could   manage  well  enough  for  myself,  and 

that  I  wished  him  immediately  on  getting  on  board 

the  brig,  to  see  the  captain  and  request  him  to 

keep  Maquina  close  till  I  was  released,  as  I  was  in 

DO  danger  while  he  had  him  safe. 

When  I  saw  Thompson  off,  I  tisked  the  natives 
V  R  2 


■-%- 


I 


i\ 


1 


188 


'I 


Ui 


If.     , 


h 

by 


h 


m 


■ 


i^ 


f>  • 


what  Ihey  intended  to  do  with  me.  They  said  I 
must  talk  to  the  captain  again,  in  another  letter, 
and  tell  him  to  let  his  boat  come  on  shore  with  Ma- 
quina,  and  that  I  should  be  ready  to  jump  into  Ihe 
boat  at  the  same  time  Maquiua  should  jump  on 
bhore.  I  told  them  that  the  captaic,  who  knew  that 
they  had  killed  my  shipmates,  would  never  trust 
his  men  so  near  the  shore  for  fear  they  couid  kill 
them  too,  as  they  were  so  much  more  numerous, 
but  that  if  they  would  select  any  three  of  iheir  num- 
ber to  go  with  me  in  a  canoe^  when  we  came  with- 
in hail,  I  would  desire  the  .captain  to  send  his  boat 
with  Maquina,  to  receive  me  in  exchange  for  him. 

This  appeared  Xo  please  them,  and  after  some 
whispering  among  the  chiefs,  who  from  what  words 
I  overheard,  concluded  that  if  the  captain  should 
refuse  to  send  bi&  boat  with  Maquina,  the  three 
men  would  have  no  difficulty  io  bringing  me  back 
with  them,  they  agreed  to  my  proposal,  and  select- 
ed three  of  their  stoutest  meo  to  convey  me.  For- 
tunately having  been  for  some  time  accustomed  to 
see  me  armed,  and  suspecting  no  design  oo  my  part,  ' 
they  paid  no  attention  to  the  pistols  that  I  had  a- 
bout  me^  J 

■    ■  ".  '?? 

As  I  was  going  into  thfe  canoe,  little  Sat&satrw^- 
sis,  who  could  not  bear  to  part  with  me,  asked  me,  ^ 
with  an  affecting  simplicity,  since  I  was  going  a- 
way  to  leate  him,  if  the  white  mea  would  not  let 


I-    !4 


said  I 
letter, 
th  i\Ia- 
ntu  (he 
mp  oQ 
ivv  that 
r  trust 
M  kill 
nerou8» 
ir  Hum« 
e  with- 
tiis  boat 
r  him* 

■>  -  * 

r  some 
t  words 

should 

three 

e  back 

felect- 
For- 
med  to 

y  part, 

had  a< 

.1):    Ifi  '■'  ' 

atrsc^k- 
led  me, 
oing  a- 
QOt  let 


189 

his  father  come  oo  shore,  and  not  kill  him.  I  told  ^ 
him  Dot  to  be  concerDed,  for  that  no  one  should  in- 
jure his  father,  when  taking  an  affectionate  leave  of 
me,  and  again  begging  me  not  to  let  the  white  men 
hurt  his  father,  he  ran  to  comfort  his  mother,  who 
was  at  a  little  distance,  with  the  assurances  I  had 
given  *>im.       /  ^. ,„         .  •  ]^ 

i 

Oil  entering  the  canoe,  I  seated  myeelf  in  the 
^prow  facing  the  three  men,  having  determined  if  it 
was  practicable,  from  the,  moment  I  found  Maquina 
was  secured,  to  get  on  board  the  vessel  before  l)e 
was  released,  hoping  by  that  means,  to  be  enabled 
to  obtain  the  restoration  of  what  property,  belonging 
to  the  Boston,  still  remained  in  the  possession  of 
the  savages,  which  I  thought,  if  it  could  be  done,  a 
duty  that  I  owed  to  the  owners.  With  {eeljngs  of 
joy  impossible  to  be  described,  did  I  quit  the  savage 
shore,  confident  now  that  nothing  could  thwart  my 
•scape,  or  prevent  the  execution  of  the  plan  that  I 
had  formed,  as  the  men  appointed  to  convey  aod 
guard  me,  were  armed  with  nothing  but  their  pad- 
dlea.  r  . 


L 


^"  <i 


As  we  came  within  hail  of  the  brig,  they  at  once 
ceased  paddling,  when  presenting  my  pistols  at 
them,  I  ordered  them  instantly  to  go  on,  or  I 
would  shoot  the  whole  of  them.  A  proceeding  so 
wholly  unexpected,  threw  them  into  great  conster- 
nation, and  resuming  their  paddles,  in  a  few 
I  R    3 


.1 


■  '^ 


^fl 


1.; 


■ 


'^ 


I  *i 


ii  - 


moments,  to  my  inexpressible  delight,  I  ooce  more 
found,  myself  along  side  of  a  Christian  ship,  a 
happiness  which  [  had  almost  despaired  of  ever 
again  enjoying.  All  the  crew  crowded  to  the  side 
to  see  me  as  the  canoe  came  up,  and  manifested 
much  joy  at  my  safety.  I  immediately  leaped  on 
board,  where  I  was  welcomed  by  the  captain, 
Samuel  Hill,  of  the  brig  Lydia  of  Boston,  who 
congratulated  me  on  my  escape,  informing  me  that 
he  had  received  my  letter  off  Kloiz-zart,  from  the 
chief  Maehee  Ulatilla,  who  came  off  himself  in  his 
canoe,  to  deliver  it  to  biro,  on  which  he  immediate- 
ly proceeded  hither  to  aid  me.  I  returned  him  my 
thanks  in  the  best  manner  I  could  for  his  humanity, 
though  I  hardly  knew  what  I  said,  such  was  the 
agitated  state  of  my  feelings  at  that  motHent,  with 
joy  for  my  escape,  thankfulness  to  the  iSupreme 
Being  who  kad  so  mercifully  preserved  me,  and 
gratitude  to  those  whom  he  had  rendered  instru- 
mental in  my  delivery,  that  I  have  no  doubt,  that 
what  with  my  strange  dress,  being  painted  with 
red  and  black  from  head  to  foot,  having  a  bear-skin 
wrapped  around  me,  and  my  long  hair,  which  I 
was  not  allowed  to  cut,  fastened  on  the  top  of  my 
bead  in  a  large  bunch,  with  a  sprig  of  green  spruce, 
I  must  have  appeared  more  like  one  deranged  than 
a  hitronal  creature,  as  captain  Hill  afterwards  told 
me,  that  he  never  saw  any  thing  in  the  form  of 
man,  look  so  wild  a«  I  did  when  I  first  came  on 
board. 


;e  more 
)hip,    a    i 
of  ever 
he  side 
nifested 
aped  on 
captain, 
m,  who 
me  that 
rom  tlie 
If  in  his 
Mediate- 
him  my 
imanity, 
was  the 
Dt,  with 
l^upreme 
me,  and 
!  instra- 
ibty  that 
ted  with 
bear-skin 
which  I 
op  of  my 
D  spmce, 
iged  than 
ardi  told 
form  of 
came  on 


■-i.-- 


191 

)  The  captain  then  asked  me  into  the  cabin,  where 
I  found  Maquina  iu  irons,  with  a  guard  over  him. 
He  looked  very  melancholy,  but  on  seeing  me, 
his  countenance  brightened  up,  and  he  expressed 
his  pleasure  with  the  welcome  of  ^^  Wocash  John*,? 
when  taking  him  foy  the  hand,  I  asked  the  captain'^ 
permission  to  take  off  his  irons,  assuring  him  that 
as  I  was  with  him  there  was  no  danger  of  hi«  being 
in  the  least  troublesome.  He  accordingly  consent- 
ed, and  I  felt  a  sincere  pleasure  in  freeing  from 
fetters,  a  man,  who,  though  he  had  caused  the 
death  of  my  poor  comrades,  had  nevertheless, 
always  proved  my  friend  and  protector,  and  whom 
I  had  requested  to  be  thus  treated,  only  with  a 
view  of  securing  my  liberty.  Maquina  smiled  and 
appeared  mach  pleased  at  this  mark  of  attention 
from  me.  When  I  bad  freed  the  king  from  his 
irons,  captain  Hill  wished  to  learn  the  particulars 
of  our  capture,  observing  that  an  account  of  the  de- 
atrnctioa  of  the  ship  and  her  crew  had  been  received 
at  Boston  before  he  sailed,  but  that  nothing  more 
was  known,  except  that  two  of  the  men  were  living, 
for  whose  rescue  the  owners  had  ofitered  a  liberal 
reward,  and  that  he  had  been  able  to  get  nothing 
out  of  the  old  man,  whom  the  sailors  had  supplied 
so  plentifally  with  grog,  as  to  bring  him  too  much 
by  the  head,  to  give  any  information. 

n  -  : 

I  gave  hito  a  correct  statement  of  the  whole  pr6- 
ceeding,  together  with  the  manner  in  which  my  lii'e 


^1  f 

•  V. 


,*.' 

•:«' 


.^\  ■■.' 


192 


i  1  :^ 


and  that  of  iny  comrade  had  been  preserved.  Oa 
hearing;  my  story,  he  was  greatly  irritated  against 
Maqaina,  and  said  he  ought  to  be  killed.  I  obs«;r- 
ved  that  however  ill  he  might  have  acted  in  taking 
oar  ship,  yet  that  it  might,  perhaps,  be  wrong 
to  judge  an  nninformed  savage,  with  the  same 
severity  as  a  civilized  person,  who  had  the  light 
of  religion  and  the  laws  of  society  to  guide 
him.  That  Maquina's  conduct  in  taking  onr  ship, 
arose  from  an  insult  that  he  thought  he  had  received 
from  captain  Salter,  and  from  the  unjustifiable 
conduct  of  some  roasters  of  vessels,  who  had  robbed 
him,  and  without  provocation,  killed  a  number  of 
bis  people.  Besides  that,  a  regard  for  the  safety 
of  others  ought  to  prevent  his  being  put  to  death, 
as  I  had  lived  long  enough  with  these  people  to 
know  that  revenge  of  an  injury,  is  held  sacred  by 
them,  and  that  they  would  not  fail  to  retaliate, 
should  we  kill  tbeir  king,  on  the  first  vessel  or 
boat's  crew  that  should  give  them  an  opportunity; 
and  that,  though  he  might  consider  executing  him 

.  as  but  an  act  of  justice,  it' would  probably  cost  the 
the  lives  of  many  Americans.  .  -»     '     w* 

ji  >■  ■  . . . '         '  • 

The  captain  appeared  to  be  convinced  from  what 
I  said,  of  the  impolicy  of  taking  Maquina^s  'iife, 
and  said  that  he  would  leave  it  wholly  With  roe 
whether  to  spare  or  kill  him,  as  he  was  resolved 
to  incur  no  censure  in  either  case.  I  replied  that 
I  most  certainly  should  never  take  the  life  of  a  man 


19« 


' 


who  had  preserved  mine,  had  I  no  other  reason, 
but  as  there  was  some  of  the  Boston's  property  still 
remaining  on  shore,  I  considered  it  a  duty  that  I 
owed  to  those  who  were  interested  in  that  ship,  to 
try  to  save  it  for  them,  and  with  that  view  I 
thought  it  would  be  well  to  keep  him  on  board  till 
it  was  given  np.  He  concurred  in  this  proposal, 
saying  if  there  was  any  of  the  property  left,  it  most 
certainly  ought  to  b«  got. 

Daring  this  conversation  Maquina  wi  in  great 
anxiety,  as  fi'om  what  English  he  knew,  he 
perfectly  comprehended  the  subject  of  our  delibera- 
tion; constantly  interrupting  me  to  enquire  what 
we  had  determined  to  do  with  him,  what  the 
captain  said,  if  bis  life  would  be  spared,  and  if  I 
did  not  think  that  Thompson  would  kill  him.  I 
paeified  him  as  well  as  I  was  able,  by  telling  him 
that  he  had  nothing  to  fear  from  the  captain,  that 
he  would  not  be  hurt,  and  that  if  Thompson 
wished  to  kill  him,  be  would  not  be  allowed  to  do 
it»  He  would  then  remind  me  that  I  was  in- 
debted to  him  far  my  life,  and  that  I  ought  to  do 
by  him,  as  be  had  done  by  me.  I  assured  him 
that  such  was  my  intention,  and  I  requested  him 
to  remain  quiet*  and  not  alarm  himself,  as  no 
harm  was  intended  him.  But  I  found  it  extremely 
difficult  to  convince  him  of  this,  as  it  accorded  so 
little  with  the  ideas  of  revenge  enterlained  by 
them,     I  told  him  however,  that  he  must  restore 


i.'Iii-iiJ  r^iTjVr^MI 


_ — ^.  •■i 


I, 


r^ 


Fi 


W'  ■ 


Hll 

Wflf: 

L^BS' } 

^■Vi' 

Kw 

■! 

^H 

I  f 


194 

all  the  property  still  in  his  possession,  belouglog 
to  the  ship.  This  he  was  perfectly  ready  to  do, 
happy  to  escape  on  smh  terms* 

*  But  as  it  was  now  past  five,  and  too  late  for 
the  articles  to  be  collected,  and  brought  off,  I  told 
him  that  he  must  content  himself  to  remain  on 
board  with  me  tt>at  night,  and  in  the  morning  he 
should  be  set  on  shore  as  soon  as  the  things  were 
delivered.  To  this  he  agreed,  on  condition  that 
I  wotild  remain  with  him  in  the  cabin.  I  then 
went  upon  deck,  and  the  canoe  that  brought  roe 
having  been^  sent  back,  I  hailed  the  inhabitanti, 
and  told  them  that  their  king  had  agreed  to  stay  on 
board  till  the  next  day,  when  he  would  retnrn, 
bat  that  no  canoes  must  attempt  to  come  near  the 
vessel  during  the  night,  as  they  would  be  fired 
■pon.  They  answered,  Woho^  woho-^xex^  well, 
very  well. 


"Tfi 


I  then  returned  to  Maquina,  but  so  great  were 
his  terrors,  that  he  would  not  allow  me  to  sleep^ 
constantly  disturbing  me  with  his  questions,  and 
repeating,  '^John,  you  know  when,  you  was  alone, 
and  more  than  five  hundred  men  were  yoar  enemies, 
I  was  Jour  friend,  and  prevented  them  from  put- 
ting you  and  Thompson  to  death,  and  now  I  am 
in  the  power  of  your  friends,  you  ought  to^  do  the 
same  by  me.  I  assured  him  that  he  would  be 
detained  on  board  no  longer  than  whiUt  the  proper* 


t  ■. 


>Iougiag 
f  to  do, 


late  for 
r,  I  told 
maio  GO 
-niog  he 
igs  wpre 
ion   that 

I  then 
light  me 
abitantfi, 
t  stay  OQ 
I  r«tarD, 
near  the 

be  fired 
ry  wclJ> 


eat  were 
o  sleep, 
one,  and 
IS  alone, 
enemies, 
om  pat- 
)W  I  am 
a  de  the 
rould  be 
i  proper* 


ty  was  released,  and  that  as  soon  as  it  wau  done, 
he  would  be  set  at  liberty,  ^ 

At  day  break  I  hailed  the  natives,  and  (old  them 
that  it  was  Maquioa^s  order  tlmt  (hey  should  bring 
oflTthe  cannon,  and  anchors,  and  whatever  remain- 
ed with  them  of  the  cargo  of  the  ship.  This  they 
set  about  doing  with  the  utmost  expedition,  trans- 
porting the  cannon  and  anchors  by  lashing  together 
two  of  their  largeitt  canoes,  and  covering  them  with 
planks,  and  in  the  course  of  two  hours,  they 
delivered  every  thing  on  board  that  I  could  recol- 
lect, with  Thompson's  and  my  ebestj  containing 
the  papers  of  ihe  ship,  &c 


f  ii   ;«v,'"   / 


When  every  thing  belonging  to  the  ship  had 
been  restored,  Maquina  was  permitted  to  rettirn 
in  his  canoe,  which  had  been  sent  for  him,  with 
a  present  of  what  skins  he  ht:id  collected,  which 
were  about  sixty,  for  the  captain,  in  acknowledge^ 
ment  of  his  having  spared  his  life,  and  alloweu 
him  to  depart  onhurt.  ,^  ^^^    ,.  .,.^,^  j#  !--, 

Such  was  also,  the  transport  he  felt  when  captain 
Hill  came  into  the  cabin,  and  told  him  that  he  was 
at  liberty  to  go,  that  he  threw  off  his  mantle,  which 
consisted  of  four  of  the  very  best  skins,  and  g'.ve  it 
to  him,  as  a  mark  of  his  jgratitude,  in  return  for 
which,  the  captain  presented  him  with  a  ne^  great 


*     „»•■. 


»'  if 


'!  .'    1     I 


u  , 


ri' 


i 


f 


^ii> 


''!■ 


196 

noat  and  hat,  with  which  he  appeared  mueh  delight- 
ed. The  captain  then  desiied  me  to  iafbrm  him  li  ' 
he  should  retarn  to  that  part  of  the  coast  in  Novem- 
ber, and  that  -he  wished  him  to  keep  what  skins  he 
should  get,  which  he  would  buy  of  him.  This  Ma- 
quina  promised,  saying  tome  at  the  same  time, 
^^  John,  you  know  I  shall  be  then  at  Tashees,  but 
when  you  come  meike pow,  which  means,  fire  a  gun 
to  let  me  know,  and  I  will  come  down.**  When 
he  came  to  the  side  of  the' brig,  he  shook  me  cordial- 
ly by  the  hand,  and  told  me  that  he  hoped  I  would 
come  to  see  him  again  in  k  big  ship,  and  brin^  much 
plenty  of  blankets,  biscuit,  raollasses  and  rum,  for 
him  and  his  son  who  loved  me  a  great  deal ;  and  that 
he  would  keep  all  the  furs  he  got  for  me,  observing 
at  the  same  time,  that  he  should  never  more  take  a 
letter  of  recommendation  from  any  one,  or  ever  trust 
himself  on  board  a  vessel  unless  I  was  there.  Then 
grasping  both  my  hands,  with  much  emotion,  while 
the  tears  trickled  down  his  cheeks,  he  bade  melEire- 
wtflU  and  oitept  Into  the  canoe,  which  immediately 
paddled  him  on  shore. 


r  ■< 


,'] 


'  M 


*'Es   U 


Notwithstanding  my  joy  a  my  deliverance,  and 
the  pleasitig  anticipation  I  ff  i.  of  oifce  more  behold- 
ing a  civilized  country,  and  again  being  permitted 
to  offer  up  my  devotions  in  a  Christian  church,  I 
could  not  avoid  experteticiog  a  painful  sensation  on 
paring  with  the  savage  chief,  who  had  preserved 


^; 


1^7 


elight- 

ovem- 
(iD8  he 
is  Ma- 
B  time, 
;»,  but 
e  a  gun 

When 
cordial- 

woaid 
g  much 
oim,  for 
tnd  that 
iserving 

take  a 
er  trust 
Thea 
while 

ne  l»i^- 
>diately 


liny  life,  and  Id  general  treated  me  with  kindueM^ 
and  considering  their  ideas  and  manners,  much 
better  than  could  have  been  expected. 

•.;••:■■!■     -   !i,    ,,'.;■■'.    • 

My  pleasure  was  also  greatly  damped  by  an  un- 
fortunate accident  that  occurred  to  Toowinnakin- 
nish.  That  interesting  young  chief  had  come  on 
board  in  the  first  canoe  in  the  morning,  anxious  to 
see  and  comfort  his  king.  He  was  received  with 
much  kindness  by  captain  HilL  from  the  favourable 
account  I  gave  of  him,  and  invited  to  remain  on 
board.  As  the  muskets  were  delivered,  he  v«as  in 
the  cabin  with  Maquina,  where  was  also  the  cap« 
tain,  who  on  receiving  them,  snapped  a  number  in 
order  to  try  the  locks;  unluckily  one  of  them 
happened  to  be  loaded  with  swan  shot,  and  going 
off,  discharged  its  contents  into  the  body  of  poor 
Toowinnakinnish,  who  was  sitting  opposite.  On 
hearing  the  report,  I  instantly  ran  into  the  cabin, 
where  I  found  him  weltering  in  his  blood,  with  the 
captain,  who  was  greatly  shocked  at  the  accident, 
endeavouring  to  assist  him. 


W 


Ml 


:e,  and 
behold- 
mitted 
rch,  I 
ion  on 
jserved 


We  raised  him  up,  and  did  every  thing  in  our 
power  to  aid  and  comfort  him,  telliog  him  that  we 
felt  much  grieved  at  his  misfortune,  and  that  it  was 
wholly  unintentional;  this  he  told  me  he  was  per- 
fectly satisfied  of,  and  %^hile  we  dressed  and  bound 
Qp  his  wounds,  in  the  best  manner  we  could,  he 
bore  the  pain  with  great  calmness,  and  bidding  me 

S 


IN 


U 
1 


t^x 


I 


.1'. 


r.. 


! 


i .  i; 


w|^tr 

, 

< 

ii^K^>>i 

'      ! 

K 

i 

m 

1 

K 

^ 

'wi 

f 

s 

fjH? 

ftlfJH* 

n 

Sgi 

198 

farewelj,  was  put  on  board  one  of  the  canoes,  and 
taken  on  shore,  \i  here  after  languishing  a  tew  days, 
he  expired.  To  me,  his  misfortune  was  a  source 
of  much  affliction,  as  he  had  no  share  in  the  mas- 
sacre of  our  crew,  was  of  a  most  amiable  character, 
and  had  always  treated  me  with  the  greatest  kind- 
ness and  hospitality.    ,      •    ^     ^       it. 

t 

The  brig  being  nnder  weigh,  immediately  on 
Maquiua's  quitting  us,  we  proceeded  to  the  north- 
ward, constantly  keeping  the  shore  in  sight,  and 
touching  at  various  places  for  the  purpose  of 
trading.  ,  ,     . 

Having  already  exceeded  the  bounds  I  had  pres- 
cribed myself,  I  shall  not  attempt  any  account  of 
our  voyage  upon  the  coast,  or  a  description  of  the  " 
various  nations  we  met  with  in  the  course  of  it, 
among  whom  were  a  people  of  a  very  singular 
appearance,  called  by  the  sailors  the  Wooden4ips, 
They  have  many  skins,  and  the  trade  is  principally 
managed  by  their  women^  who  are  not  only  expert 
in  making  a  bargain,  but  are  as  dexterous  in  the 
management  of  their  canoes,  as  the  men  are  else- 
where. .  ,■     -  '    >  /  V.4;    . 

*      u 

;  ■  •  ■ 

After  a  period ^f  nearly  four  months  from  our 
leaving  Nootka,  we  returned  from  the  northward 
to  Columbia  river,  for  the  purpose  of  procuring 
masts,  &c.  for  our  brig,  which  had  suffered  consi- 


^ 


u  » 


^ 


^  •  . 


,  and 
days, 
lource 
i  inas- 
pacter, 
k  kind- 


,>..'••* 


ely  on 

Dorth- 

[it,  and 

)Ose    of 


id  pres- 
;ount  of 

of  the  - 
le  of  it, 
singular 

den-lips* 
Qcipally 
y  expert 
18  in  the 
are  else- 


Trom  our 

lorthward 

procuring 

red  CODSi- 


\ 


199 

derably  io  her  spars  <?  i ring  a  gale  of  wind.  We 
proceeded  about  ten  miles  up  the  river,  to  a  small 
Indian  village,  where  we  heard  from  the  iuhabi- 
taots,  that  captains  Oark  and  Lewis,  from  the 
Unir  J  States  of  America,  had  been  there  about  a. 
fortnight  before,  on  their  journey  over-land,  and 
had  left  several  medals  with  them,  which  they 
shewed  us.  The  river  at  this  place,  is  of  conside- 
rable breadth,  and  both  sides  of  it  from  its  entrance, 
covered  with  forests  of  the  very  finest  pine  timber, 
fir  and  spruce,  interspersed  wi^th  Indian  settle- 
ments. 


;•  v:  : 


;.  >.f  .' 


From  this  place,  after  providing  ourselves  with 
spars,  we  sailed  for  Noolka,  where  we  arrived  in 
the  latter  part  of  November.  The  tribe  being 
absent,  the  agreed  signal  was  given,  by  firing  a 
cannon,  and  in  a  few  hours  after  a  canoe  appeared, 
which  landed  at  the  village,  and  putting  the  king 
on  shore,  came  oflf  to  the  brig.— Enquiry  was 
immediately  made  by  Kinneclimmits,  who  was  one 
of  the  three  men  in  the  canoe,  if  John  was  there,  as 
the  king  had  some  skins  to  sell  them  if  he  was.  I 
then  went  forward  and  invited  them  on  board, 
with  which  they  readily  complied,  telling  me  that 
Maquina  bad  a  number  of  skins  with  him,  hut  that 
he  would  not  come  on  board  unless  I  would  go  on 
shore  for  him.  This  I  agreed  to,  provided  they 
would  remain  in  the  brig  in  the  mean  time.  To 
this  they  consented,  and  the  captain   taking  them 

S  S 


i;! 

I, 


« 


'< 


200 


into  the  cabin,  treated  them  with  bread  and  molas- 
ses. I  then  went  on  shore  in  the  canoe>  dotwith- 
■tanding  the  remonstrances  of  Thompson  and  the 
captain,  who,  thongh  he  wanted  the  skins,  advised 
.  ine  by  no  means  to  put  myself  in  Maqaina^s 
power;  but  I  assured  him  that  I  had  no  fear  as 
long  as  those  men  were  on  board,     sny   Tsi    IM 


I.  «»*  ' 


^    •*::•»  * 


.11    j>';  Vif^'^flvf 


As  T  landed  Maqaina  came  up  and  welcomed 
me  with  much  joy :  on  enquiring  for  the  men,  I 
told  him  that  tkey  were  to  remain  till  my  return. 
*'  Ah  John,"  said  he,  "  I  see  yon  are  afraid  to 
trust  me,  but  if  they  had  come  with  you,  I  should 
not  have  hurt  you,  though  I  should  have  taken 
good  care  not  to  let  yon  go  on  board  of  another 
vessel/^  He  then  took  his  chest  of  skids,  and  step- 
ping into  the  canoe,  I  paddled  him  along-side  the 
brig,  where  he  was  received  and  treated  by  Cap- 
tain Hill  with  the  greatest  cordiality,  whobonght 
of  him  his  skins.  He  left  us  much  pleased  with 
his  reception,  enquiring  of  me  how  many  moons  it 
would  be  before  I  should  come  back  again  to  see 
him  and  his  son;  saying,  that  he  would  keep  all 
his  furs  for  me^  and  that  as  soon  as  my  son,  who 
was  then  about  five  months  old,  was  of  a  suitable 
age  to  take  from  his  mother,  he  would  send  for 
him,  and  take  care  of  him  as  his  own.;  i  ijpi?  'si 

As  soon  as  Maquica  had  quitted  us,   we  got^ 
under  weigh)  and  stood  again  to  the  northward. 


iOl 


inolais- 
twith- 
id  the 
dvised 
aioa^s 
Bar  as 

:;^:|/ 

corned 
nen,  I 
return, 
aid  to 
should 
taken 
Dother 
d  step- 
ide  the 
f  Cap- 
}oaght 
I  with 

)0D8   it 

to  see 
ep  all 
,  who 
litable 

id  for 

,  J  ■' 

e  got' 
iward. 


We  continued  on  the  coast  until  the  eleventh  of 
August,  1806,  when  tiaving  completed  our  tradet 
we  sailed  for  China,  to  the  great  joy  of  all  our 
crew,  and  particularly  so  \o  me.  With  a  degree 
of  satisfaction  that  I  can  ill  express,  did  I  quit  a 
coast,  to  which  I  was  resolved  nothing  should 
again  tempt  me  to  return,  and  as  the  tops  of  the 
mountains  sunk  in  the  blue  waves  of  the  ocean, 
I  seemed  to  feel  my  heart  lightened  of  an  oppres- 
sive load....    .M-.\':',{u    ■:■>    '7'-.    ,'yK-     f'*;: 


■•.<.' 


We  had  a  prosperous  passage  to'Chiua,  arriving, 
at  Macao  in  December,  from  whence  the  Brig  pro- 
ceeded \o  Canton.  There  i  had  the  good  fortune 
to  meet  a  townsman  and  an  old  acquaintance,  in 
the  mate  of  an  English  East  India  man,  named 
John  Hill,  whose  father,  a  wealthy  merchant  in 
Hull,  in  the  Baltic  trade,  was  a  next  door  neighbour 
to  mine.  Shortly  after  our  arrival,  the  captain 
being  on  board  of  an  English  ship,  and  mentioning 
his  having  had  the  good  fortune  to  liberate  two  men 
of  the  Boston^s  crew  from  the  savages,  and  that  one 
of  them  was  named  Jewitt,  my  former  acquaintance 
immediately  came  on  board  the  brig  to  see  me. 

Words  can  ill  express  my  feelings  on  seeing 
him.  Circumstanced  as  I  was,  among  persons  who 
were  entire  strangers  to  me,  to  meet  thus  in  a 
foreign  land,  with  one  between  whom  nod  myself 
ftr^coosiderabU  iutimacy  had  subsisted,  was  a  plea* 

'      ^     S3 


202 


11 

i 


11 


'I 


) 


ft        ^ 


\t!. 


i^.< 

'    V 


I:  I 


Ml 


f  ^ 


■  r 


sure  that  those  alone  who  have  beca  ia  a  simi- 
lar sitaation  can  properly  estimate.  He  appear- 
ed oa  his  part,  no  lesfr  happy  to  see  me,  whom 
he  sapposed  to  be  dead,  as  theaccdnnt  of  our  cap* 
tnre  had  been  received  in  England  some  time  before 
his  sailing,  and  all  my  friends  sapposed  me  to  have 
been  murdered.  From  this  young  man,  I  received 
every  attention  and  aid  that  a  feeling  heart,  inte- 
rested in  the  fate  of  another,  could  confer.  He 
supplied  me  with  a  new  suit  of  clothes^  and  a  hat« 
a  small  sum  of  money  for  my  necessary  expences, 
and  a  number  of  little  articles  for  sea  stores  on  my 
voyage  to  America.  I  also  gave  him  a  letter  for 
my  father,  in  which  I  mentioned  my  wonderful 
preservation  and  escape,  through  the  huknanity  of 
captam  Hill,  with  whom  I  should  return  to  Boston. 
This  letter  he  enclosed  to  his  father,  by  a  ship 
that  was  just  sailing,  in  consequence  of  which  it 
was  received  much  earlier  than  it  otherwise  would 
have-been.    ■'■'•     V'^^  ■f!^iin^.i.l-rr;i1^*ln:W«ic^ds(i 

We  left  China  in  Febrnvry,  180Y,  andaftier  a 
pleasant  voyage  of  one  hundred  and  fonrteen  days, 
arrived  at  Boston.  My  feelings  on  once  more 
finding  myself  in  a  Christian  country,  among  .a 
people  speaking  the  same  language  with  myself, 
may  be  more '  readily  conceived  thi^a  expressed. 
In  the  Post  Office  in  that  place^  I  fonnd  a  letter 
for  me  froni  my  mother,  acknowledging  the  receipt 
of  mine  from  Cbiiuiy  expresiing  the  great  joy  of  my 


simi- 
ppear- 
whom 
r  cap* 

before 

0  have 
'ceived 
,  iote- 
r.  He 
a  hat« 
leQces, 
on  my 
ter  for 
aderfal 
nity  of 
So8ton« 
El  ship 
hich  it 
weald 

ifter  a 

1  days, 
more 

lODg  a 
nyself, 
ressed. 

letter 
receipt 

of  my 


.( 


i 


.  203 

s^        ^'i  faiifji'.y  on  hv^ariog   of  my  beiag  alive  and   well, 
j  ,      '»  whom  they  had  for  a  long  time  given  up  for  dead, 
..'V  and  requesting  me  to  write  to  them  on  receiving  her 
^^  letter^  which  I  accordingly  did.     While  in  Bostony 
I  was  treated  with  much  kindness  and  hospitality 
\  by  the  owners  of  the  ship  Boston,  Messrs.  Francis  ^ 

and  Thomas  Amory  of  that  place,  to  whom  I  feel  \i 
"  myself  nnder  great  obligations  for  their  goodness  to  ^^ 
ihe,  and  the  assisance  which  they  so  readily  aflford*'** 
ed  a  stranger  in  distress* ;{  .i     ,   «- 


..!'.!> 


^i  u..,:&-j«i)  ,f.i)j  v;> 


'^' 


ojtJ<7 

*  L  I 


»         •         1     .     *  *       *  i"^      ■* 


.'•'.■iiuS]  n^ihii  ■ 


I   .  <'   '  ■  ' 


>V 


•#1.    ?4|  J  ;    *'*    < 


! 


^-1 


!■      l.r.'-: 


H> 


i 


iii>i 


:i;; 


i: 


St,"  :■; 


'3 


?■<! 


rt- 


A' 


201 


,v_,y- 


Namcs  of  the  Crew  of  (he  Ship  Uost'm^  belonging  in 
Bos  on  in  Massachusetts,  owned  by  Messrs  and  T. 
jimory.  Merchants,  of  that  place — All  of-  whom, 
excepting  two,  zee  re  on  the  22rf  of  March,  J  803,  bar- 
barously  murdered  by  the  savages  of  Nootka^.i^^  } 


John  Sailer,  * 
B  Deluirisia,     *^  <^ 
William  I'Dgraliam, 
£d  ward  Thompsoo, 
Adam  Siddlr, 
Philip  Brown, 
John  Dorihy, 
Abraham  Waters, 
Francis  Diifiield, 


'^.; 


or  Boston,  Captain 

DIuo,    •  •     f'i^y^r-ii  «^>  Chief  Mate 
of  New  York,    l^i'^it^  jffx  Second  Mate 
ot  Hl^th  (Kngland) 
of  tiull        diltb 
of  Cambridge,  (Mass) 
of  Situate,         ditto 
of  Philadelphia, 
of  Penton,  (tngland) 


John  Wilson,  (blackman) of  Virginia, 


William  Caldwell, 
Joseph  Miner, 
William  Robinsan^ 
Thomas  Wilson, 
Andrew  Kelly, 
Robert  Burton,  ' 
James  M' Clay, 
Thomas  Plat teui 
Thomas  Newton, 
Charles  Bates, 
John  liall, 
Samuel  Wood, 
Peter  Alstrom, 
Francis  Marten, 


of  Boston, 

of  Newport* 

of  Leigh,  (Scotland) 

of  Air,         ditto 

Ditto,  ditto 

of  the  Isle  of  Man 

of  Dublin, 

of  Blackney,  Norfolk,  Eng  Ditto 

of  Hull,  do.  Ditto 

of  St  James  Deeping    d6.  Ditto 

of  Newcastle  do.  Ditto 

of  Glasgow,  (Scotland)        Ditto 

Norwegian, 


Buai  swain 

Carpenter 

Joiner   ' 

Blacksmith 

Steward    , 

Tailor 

Cook. 

Seamam 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto 

Ditto 


Ditto 
Ditto 

Ditto       *'''' 
Sail  Maker, 


Portuguesf, 
Jupiter  Senegal  (blackman)  ' 

John  Thompson,  Philadelphia, 

,„>      i .  i;  who  escaped— since  dead 

John  R.  Jewitt,        '        of  llufi,( England)    -.       Armourer, 
the  writer  of  the  Journal  f»  om  w  hence  this  Narrative  is  taken,  and 
who  at  present,  March  1816,  resides  in  Middletowo,in  the  State  oC 
Connecticut.     ■  f..^  -  .v 


; 


and  T. 
f".  whoniy 
03,  bar- 

I  tain 
ef  Mute 
Olid  Mate 

iisfvaia 
penter 
ler  *'* 
cksmith 
lard 

or 

.J 

0 

> 
> 

) 


laker, 
edead 
urer, 
;en,  and 
State  of 


; 


205 

VVARSONG  OF  THE  NOOTKA  TRIBE. 

Commencing  with  a  Chorus  repeated  at  the  end  of 


.'\f.  4*      .» .  » 


each  line. 


I.  ^ii\      :  *  . 


Hah-yee  hah  yar  har,  he  yar  hah. 

Hah-yah  hee  yar  har — he  yar  hah. 

le  yie  ee  yah  har — ee  yie  hah. 

le  yaree  yar  hah — ee  yar  yah. 

le  yar  ee  I  yar  yar  hah —  Je  yar  ee  yee  yah  I     ^  f 

I-ye  ma  hi-chill  at-sish  Kla-ha — Hah-ye-hah.  '^f^ 
Que  nok  ar  parts  arah  ^aw — le  yie- yar. 
Waw-hoo  naks  sar  haach — Yar-hah.      I-yar  hee 

lyar. 
Waw  hoo  naksar  hasch  yak-queeta  sish  ni-esOf'^A 
Waw  har.     Hie  yee  ah  hah,  f' 

Repeated  over  and  over  with  gestures  aad  braodish- 
ing  of  weapons.       :n^A.  ,^^u  ,  i 


NOTE. 


le-yee  ma  hi  chill,  signifies.  Ye  do  not  knowi 
It  appears  to  be  a  poetical  mode  of  expression,  the 
common  one  for  you  do  not  know,  being,  AF/^- 
Icum-atash;  from  this,  it  would  seem  that  they 
have  two  languages,  one  for  their  songs  and  ano- 
ther for  common  use  The  general  meaning  of 
this  first  stanza  appears  to  be.  Ye  little  know  ye 
men  of  Kiahar,  what  valiant  viarriors  we  are. 
Poorly  can  our  foes  contend  with  us,  when  we 
come  on  with  our  daggers,  &:c. 

The  Nootkians  have  no  sonss  of  an  historical 
nature,  nor  do  they  appear  to  have  any  tradition 
respecting  their  origin. 


:'Vti  H:i  il'iy 


**  J>     (; 


.r-.' 


\ 


ri 


i 


If  i 


i 


;i 


■  ;i 


'  ?'R 


I 


In 


^-t 


■•'I  '  ■'; 


foil ;  ■ 


■•, 


i 


i; 


;:  ! 


y 


206 


'.M       t. 


.  f*»  -   V  1  -♦        •■#•?■%•  I  «        -  <•  ^•' 


A  LIST  OF  WORDS 

//*  (he  Nootkigtn  Language,  (he  most  in  use,     » 


-  t 


^.i  it*-. 


.iUiii 


'  */  **' 


mt^-m 


Check-u|>, 

Klnotzinuh, 

Noowexa, 

Hooma-hexa, 

Tanassis,     -" ; 

Kallahtik,         r»    ;, 

Kioot'chem-up, 

Tanassis  check-up, 

TaDa88i8-kloot8-mat)> 

Tau-hat-se-tee, 

Kassee, 

Hap-se  up, 

^eetsa, 

Parpee, 

Cbee-chee, 

Choop, 

Kook-a-nik'fa>        ^ 

Klish-kiin, 

Oop-helth,      jf^a*»   t 

Tar-toot»e,  ^*^:^*'  ^^no"^ 

Sie-yah,         -^   "'■^^^'■ 

Toop  elth,    h-m^^\'fr 

Cha-hak,     nil  frt   .• 

Meet  la,        il>^w      't^    < 

Queece,      ^i   i^t;w   i/O-^ 

Nool-chee, 
;Kla-turmi8s, 
.KeD'Quk-see, 

Mook-fiee, 

Muk-ka  tee, 

Wik 


Mhd. 


M  ■(    I  <{  *=^f»'''U«l 


Father.'^";  ^^V^-***^^'; 


•^*:i   Mother. 


^IIBVM  -c,,i,j^     ; 


•    i*  ■•  i-n3»"'tr/^  '-l 


Brother,     t:,,;^!^.,.,    ;4 
Sifter. 


'■.  !• 


?  '.  > 


'.' ' ' 


•^•^ 


*'■• 


.^y. 


Son. ^.  r 

Daughter. 

Head. 

£ye8. 

Haic. 

Nose.    '■iri''..-3  trtf^.^j^n 

Ears.    ■   .*•  ':^:^{v;>;f7  lo'-pn? 

Teeth.  .  !, 

ToD£ue. 

Hands.     Vv'te?^ 

Feet.  'f 

Sun  or  Moon.  - 

Stars.  -^rta:^ 

Sky.  '^'^^ 

Sea.  ■•'•hJv    ■(     T9.!i 

Freih  water.^'* '^^^  *^^^ 
Rain.  ^^  ^'^'^ 

Sdovt.  '  "*"  **«^"  't^"^^^^ 
Mountain  or  hill;  ^  ^^*^^^ 
Earth.  .  . 

Fire  or  fuel.  aV'^s^nf^m 
Rock.  r^i 

Hou?e.         .  ^^'    V  * 

No.    ■■  ' 


% 


2or. 


.f.  '.nil 


.;i  -^,\ 


'■< ;  t 


♦»'■! 


Jtr; 


.ff 


He-bo, 

Kak-kotflth, 

Mah-hack, 

Klack-e-misi, 

Quart  lak, 

Coo-coo-ho-sa, 

iMoo-watch, 

Su-har, 

Too8cb-qua, 

Pow-ee, 

Kloofl  a-mit, 

Chap-atz, 

Oo-wha-pa, 

Chee-me-na, 

Chee-men, 

Sick-a-minny, 

Toophelth, 

Cham'mass, 

Cham-mas-sishy 

M00t-8U8, 

Chee-pokes, 

Hah-weiks, 

Nee-aim-mer-hise, 

Cbat-ta-yek,  ^ 

Klick-er  yek, 

Quishar, 

Mar  met-ta, 

Pook  shit-tle, 

Een^a-qui'shittle, 

Ar-teese, 

Ma-mook  sa  mah, 

A   smootish  cbeck-ap, 

Cha-alt-see  klat-tur  wah,Go  off.  or  go  away. 

Ma-kook,  To  sell. 

Kah-ah'pahchiltt  Give  roe  somethiog. 

Oonah;  How  maoy. 

ly  ah-ish,  Much. 

|i[o  mrae-tak,  I  understand. 


■J 


ih 


U[ 


Slave. 

Whale. 

Oil. 

Sea  otter. 

Seal. 

Bear. 

Sdlrnoo. 

Cod. 

Halihut. 

Herring. 

CitDoe. 

Paddle. 

A  fish  hook. 

Fish-hooks* 

Iron. 

Cloth. 

Fruit. 
C  Sweet  or  pleasant  to  the 
I     taste. 

Powder. 

Copper. 

Hungry. 

Enough. 

Knife  or  dagger. 

Kings. 

Smoke, 

Goose  or  duck. 

To  blow. 

To  kindle  a  fire. 

To  bathe. 

To  go  to  fish. 

A  warrior. 


» 

i^  :.  i.   >    '/i> 


*W|f' 


<*it: 


I 


208 


III  ki 

V 


I 


n 


w 


I' I 


I 


;  1) 


>.     Ili 


i-^  f 


i.yce  ma  liak, 
Em-ma*chup, 
Kle-wtiar,  •;•  j 

Mac-kam-inah-sishy 
Kah-uh'Coh,         ,r 
Sah-uauk, 


«>    I  do  not  understauil* 


,'HH  To  play. 


I.)'  K 


?* 
/*^^  ^i 


Att-la, 

Kat-sa, 

Mooh, 

Soo-vliah, 

NoO'poo, 

At-tle-poo, 

At-lah-qoelth, 

Saw-wauk-quelthy 

Hy-o, 

Sak-aitz, 

Soo-jewk, 

Hy-e-oak, 

sir  '  V .    /?',» 


Odo. 

•>      Two. 
V  ,t  t)  Three, 
-f     Four. 
Five, 
Six. 
t  ' 1*  Seven, 
,'AW  Eight. 
1  H     Nine. 
^t,M:,d  i^i  Tea. 

q,^"  Twenty. 


To  laugh. 

Do  you  wabtto  bny. 

Bring  it.  .^'  i     .-'  P 


.tlrii    One  hundred.      !;Uhh;»'/i' 
jvv!    One  thousand,     nift  iu^ri** 


,  *»"■ 


FINIS. 


•/i 


'v;0i3 


Rowland  Hurst,  Printer,  Wakeheld. 


^rfoaii-flM 


Oil. 


I' 

^  i^.  A 

.'  'iUt  1'. 

bny.    »  vi 
■tf.'j  *lfi  -{I 


■  I 


